The South African cricket landscape may be set for a seismic shift with the potential return of one of its greatest contemporary batsmen, Faf du Plessis. At 39 years of age, he remains a formidable force in T20 cricket, continuing to demonstrate his world-class abilities with standout performances marked by remarkable consistency and an impressive strike rate surpassing 140. Despite his stature, Faf du Plessis has not donned the national colors since his departure from Test cricket in 2021. Yet for the T20 World Cup 2024, there are strong indications that the former Proteas captain may be slated for an international return.
Recent statements from white-ball coach Rob Walter have stirred considerable excitement, acknowledging du Plessis as a candidate for the national side with the World Cup in perspective. This notion gained further credence by du Plessis himself, who confirmed high probabilities of such a comeback. Speaking during his stint at the Abu Dhabi T10 League, where he represents the Morrisville Samp Army, du Plessis conveyed his ongoing discussions with the selectors and cricket board. He conveyed to the broadcaster, “I believe that I can return to international cricket as well. We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It’s just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It’s certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach. Watch this space.”
Notably, du Plessis has reinvented his approach to T20 cricket at age 38 and showed no signs of slowing down, with a spectacular run in the IPL 2023 where he amassed 730 runs at a strike rate of 153. Du Plessis is acutely aware of the rigors of remaining competitive at the highest level, especially when matching strides with younger counterparts. He elaborated on the intensive efforts necessary to maintain physical prowess, “I do a lot of hard work to ensure I look after my body to be able to play this brilliant game we love so much. When you do get a little bit older, you have to make sure you put in the work. Otherwise, the hamstring and other body parts do not work that well. There is a lot of fast running and a lot of stuff to make sure that level where you can play against the best players in the world.”
The discussion of potential comebacks extends beyond du Plessis. Players such as Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw were overlooked for the T20 series against India, but in a recent press conference, Walter expressed that all three maintain chances for inclusion, with performances in the new SA20 league likely to play a significant role. This bears particular importance given the sparse schedule of T20 internationals for the Proteas leading up to the World Cup.
This development has caused a ripple of anticipation through the South African cricket community and beyond. While selective dalliances with retirement and return have been a feature of international cricket, du Plessis’s proposed resurgence ahead of a marquee event is a testament to his enduring skill and undiminished passion for the game.
Significantly, this situation also reflects on the evolving dynamics within the Proteas setup and the new strategies they might adopt with an eye on the World Cup. The inclusion of seasoned players like du Plessis promises a blend of experience and vigor, potentially enriching the team’s prospects.
As the cricket world looks forward to the next T20 World Cup, the saga of Faf du Plessis and his possible reclaiming of the Proteas jersey is a narrative steeped in hope and rekindled ambition. With the cricket fraternity abuzz, it seems that all eyes will be on ‘this space’ that du Plessis has compellingly urged enthusiasts to watch.