The third and the final Test of the Freedom Series between India and South Africa is all set to start today in Johannesburg, and Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis admitted that the upcoming IPL Auction 2018 will definitely distract his players, though saying it is normal, as the worthwhile T20 league "plays a big part in their lives".

Besides Du Plessis, there are some other South African players, including Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Dean Elgar and Vernon Philander will go under the hammer on Saturday and Sunday’s IPL auction –the last two days of the final Test of the Freedom Series.

So, it is certain that the IPL auction 2018 will affect the Proteas players, but Du Plessis wants to make sure his boys keep the focus and the energy driving towards only the Test match when they will be on the field.

According to a report in PTI, Du Plessis told reporters on the eve of the Johannesburg Test, “Well we don't have our phones, so it's difficult to check (the auction). There will be distractions, and that is normal, it's human. The IPL plays a big part in all of our lives.”

The skipper signed off by saying, “For the management and myself, it's important to make sure we keep the focus and the energy driving towards the Test match. And at the end of the day's play, if we want to talk about the auction a little bit, we can do that but to make sure that the next day, when it's Test match time again, we are switched on and focused.”