Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis revealed that he is considering a comeback to international cricket in time for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and USA.
Du Plessis has not represented Proteas in an international match since appearing for South Africa in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2021, and his last white-ball clash for his country was a T20I contest against England in Cape Town at the 2020 end.
But the 39-year-old veteran has been performing well at the domestic level recently and was the second-highest run-scorer behind only Shubman Gill at this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he contributed 730 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 14 innings, with eight half-centuries. Showcasing an amazing level of fitness, a wide array of shots, and a strong passion to be on the cricket field, Du Plessis has shown he is not quite done yet.
Du Plessis is currently in Abu Dhabi, participating in another domestic tournament, and has indicated he is in discussions with new South African white-ball coach Rob Walter regarding a potential return to the international fold before the T20 World Cup.
“I believe that I can return to international cricket,” du Plessis said, as quoted by the ICC.
“We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It is just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It is certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach,” he said.
Du Plessis captained South Africa during two T20 World Cup campaigns in 2014 and 2016, but was not considered for the last two editions of the tournament, despite the fact that he has never officially retired from international white-ball cricket.
He has represented Proteas in 50 T20I games, scoring 1,528 runs at an average of 35.53, with one century and 10 fifties in 50 innings and a best score of 119. His runs have come at a strike rate of over 134.