SA T20 2024: Faf du Plessis Reveals How He Felt While Playing Under MS Dhoni

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis expressed appreciation for the influence of Indian wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni on his captaincy. Faf du Plessis said that he considers himself lucky to have been under MS Dhoni’s leadership early in his cricket career.

Faf du Plessis was a member of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad from 2011 to 2021. He delivered a match-winning performance in the 2021 IPL final against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He earned the Player of the Match award, contributing to CSK’s fourth title.

Du Plessis will continue to lead the Joburg Super Kings for the upcoming season of the SA20. The 39-year-old was the team’s second-highest run scorer during the inaugural edition. The right-handed batter amassed 369 runs, including a century and two half-centuries.

It Was Great To Be Part Of That Dressing Room – Faf du Plessis

Speaking at a press conference before the second season of SA20, Faf du Plessis opened up about his early days in the Chennai Super Kings dressing room. He said that he gained valuable insights from observing seasoned players during his initial journey.

“Firstly, it was great to be part of that dressing room as a young guy. Probably my biggest learning curve was being fortunate enough to be there under Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni really at the start of my initial journey. Just to see the big guns do things, it was great to learn from them. During my first season, I was just sitting and asking questions and observing them,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis took over the captaincy of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, leading the team in the last two IPL seasons. However, the Joburg Super Kings acquired the services of the former South African skipper in the inaugural edition of SA20.

It’s Not Possible To Copy Different Styles – Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis stressed the significance of embracing strategies that resonate with one’s strengths rather than imitating different styles. He lauded MS Dhoni’s capacity to stay calm under pressure, highlighting the positive influence on the bowling unit.

“Also, by playing under some great leaders, you also get to understand that it’s really important to do things that work for you. It’s not possible to copy different styles all the time,” Du Plessis stated.

“MS is Captain Cool, as they call him. He is always very calm under pressure. So it’s always important that under pressure or when the stakes are a bit more higher, you remain relaxed and it makes a big difference to the bowling attack, especially. Very lucky to have played under him,” he further added.

MS Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title during the last season, equaling the Mumbai Indians record. The former Indian skipper is currently on the path to recovery, having undergone knee surgery last year to address a long-standing issue.

Also read: Indian Players Will Be Heartbroken, Losing World Cup Is Like Breaking Up With Girlfriend: Faf du Plessis