Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis shared the experience of playing under MS Dhoni-Stephen Fleming regime in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Du Plessis was a key member of the CSK franchise from 2011 until he left the side on a winning note in 2021. He may have parted ways with the Super Kings family in the IPL, but continues to represent Joburg Super Kings in the SA20.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play under some great names like MS [Dhoni] and [Stephen] Flem[ing] has been there from the beginning. So, that consistency is great to be a part of and one that I’m really still enjoying,” JSK captain Du Plessis said while addressing the media on JioStar Press Room ahead of SA20 Season 4.

“I think if you look, any player organisation would say that a team that they like to play for is a team that they feel backed. So, if you look at the general Super Kings way of players that they’ve backed over the years, you can definitely see that consistency,” he added.

“For someone like myself, you know, 10 years with them in the IPL and our three years at JSK and also Texas Super King. It’s a great franchise to be a part of,” he continued.

Graeme Smith, the SA20 Commissioner, said the league has ticked several boxes in its first four seasons, acting as a talent feeder for the national team.

“I think credit needs to go to the players and the national team for their performance over the last couple of years.

“I think our role at SA20 from the beginning, we’ve always said that we want to put 50, 60 players on the global map every year, expose them to the best possible cricket and help develop the player pool around the national teams.

“And I think over the last couple of years, we’ve certainly seen a lot of players develop their game, go from talented youngsters to great international cricketers,” Smith remarked.