South African batting star Faf du Plessis is all set to return to action in the ongoing ninth edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL 2021) after a long lay-off due to the concussion he suffered during the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) in June 2021.
He collided with Quetta Gladiators teammate Mohammad Hasnain while trying to save a boundary in the PSL 2021.
Du Plessis was also forced to miss the recent The Hundred in England owing to the persisting impact of the concussion, though, he is now fit to lead the St Lucia Kings in the CPL 2021 after a forced break of three months from the game due to the concussion.
The Proteas star is now looking forward to playing for the St Lucia Kings in the CPL 09, where they will open their campaign against the Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday (August 27) in Basseterre.
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Du Plessis told reporters, “I am very excited about being with a new franchise with a new identity and a new team. The guys are really keen to get going. The competition is going to be really intense in terms of games. All in all, I’m extremely excited about the next three weeks ahead.”
On the concussion incident, he added: “Normally, during a concussion injury, you get hit on the helmet and someone checks you out, either you continue batting or recover in a week’s time. I thought it would take two or four weeks, it has been triple. Luckily I am at the end of it now. I am just making sure I get to practice in full intensity. If I do that, I will be ready to play.”
After the CPL 2021, Du Plessis will directly head to the UAE to join MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021), resuming on September 19.
The CSK was in great form in the first half of the IPL 14, sitting at the second in the points table, and the right-hander, who scored 320 runs in the first leg of the tournament in India, hopes to continue playing good cricket in the tournament in the UAE.
Du Plessis said on the IPL 14, “We have played good cricket; hopefully, the form will continue. I had a strong first half, and I hope to continue from where I left off [in India]. We are a better-balanced squad from the previous season.”
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He further said the CSK's phenomenal player-selection process along with Dhoni’s experience is the biggest factor behind the franchise’s success over the years. The former South African captain said he is grateful to be able to learn things being with CSK and from the most influential captain Dhoni.
Du Plessis signed off by saying, “CSK always had a strong side on the cricket field. They always looked at getting good leaders. At one stage, they had four international captains playing for CSK. They rely on a lot of smart cricketers, and mixing that with the experience of playing under MS Dhoni is the biggest factor. He is probably the most influential captain in the game. The last 10 years have been good for me; extremely grateful for the learning I had.”
(With SPORTSTAR Inputs)
