Former captain Faf du Plessis hints at possible return for South Africa at T20 World Cup

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has hinted at a potential return to international cricket, eyeing participation in the forthcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. His last international appearance was in a Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2021, and his final T20 International match for South Africa occurred in Cape Town at the end of 2020.

Despite a hiatus from international cricket, du Plessis, now 39, has maintained an impressive form in domestic cricket. He notably secured the second-highest run total in the latest Indian Premier League, amassing 730 runs from 14 innings while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. His consistent performance at the domestic level has kept him in the reckoning for international matches.

Currently engaged in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, du Plessis has been in talks with Rob Walter, the white-ball coach for South Africa, about a potential comeback. "I believe that I can return to international cricket," du Plessis stated, emphasizing ongoing discussions about his role in the next T20 World Cup.

Du Plessis led South Africa in the T20 World Cup campaigns of 2014 and 2016. Although he wasn't part of the last two editions of the tournament, he has never officially retired from international white-ball cricket. Rob Walter, acknowledging the experience of players like du Plessis, has kept the door open for their return. He mentioned that while 80% of the South African team for the T20 World Cup might be predetermined, there's still room for other players to join based on their performance in domestic tournaments.

Despite no longer holding a central playing contract with South Africa, du Plessis, with his 23 international centuries across formats, remains confident in his ability and fitness to compete at the highest level. He underlines the importance of hard work and physical fitness, especially as players age, to maintain a competitive edge.