Faf Du Plessis, captain of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has described his dual position with the team as “sharing my experiences as a senior batter with youngsters and being a father figure to the side, especially its young players.” RCB captain Faf du Plessis is leading by example and is now dominating the batting rankings with 702 runs and eight half-centuries in 13 games. The captain’s aggressive play has set the tone for the youthful RCB team, which is now on the cusp of the playoffs.
Since joining Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2022, Du Plessis has been fully immersed in his dual roles as team mentor and captain. His strike rate of 153.95 was just one indication of his exceptional batting ability. Du Plessis, the team’s captain, opened up about his experience mentoring the team’s younger players in the most recent episode of RCB Bold Diaries.
As a hitter, I strive to teach others what I’ve learned about the game in general and the mental side of batting in particular. I didn’t feel like I knew as much as I would have liked as a young player about such stuff. The captain then takes on the obvious paternalistic duty of guiding and bolstering these young professionals as they embark on their professional journeys. According to an RCB press release, captain Faf du Plessis said, “It’s very important for the young guys to feel that there is real backing for you no matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you come from, or how old you are.”
In this current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the seasoned hitter has played a consistently bold role that exudes class. Mahipal Lomror, a developing all-rounder for the RCB, lavished the skipper with accolades and discussed how he serves as an inspiration to the entire team.
He’s remarkably composed under pressure. He makes very well-defined choices and backs up his teammates. “He’s earning a lot of respect from the way he’s running between the wickets, fielding, and batting for long periods of time for the team,” Lomror said.
Michael Bracewell, a new member of the RCB this year and an all-rounder, recently spoke about how impressed he has been by Faf’s dedication to training and fitness. A fantastic leader, Faf. He is caring and thoughtful, and he knows how to coax the finest performance from his players. This year, he has been phenomenal, producing great runs at every stadium we have visited. At the age of 38, he is still a fantastic athlete. I agree with Bracewell; it’s a fantastic show.
Mohammed Siraj, the star bowler for RCB who has taken 17 wickets so far this season, has praised Faf for his hard work in the weight room and on the pitch.
The way he trains and prepares for his games motivates us. “Even at his advanced age, Faf still manages to look good. His sense of style and level of physical fitness is truly remarkable,” said Siraj.
Bowler Akash Deep shares this admiration for the captain’s one-of-a-kind skills and attributes.
He knows the lay of the land and keeps things straightforward thanks to his wealth of expertise. It’s a lot of fun to play with him, and he gives very clear explanations of what needs to be done. Akash Deep commented, “I can’t believe how much energy and athleticism he has on the ground.
With 14 points after seven wins and six losses, RCB is currently in fourth place in the IPL 2023 points standings. On Sunday, they will play Gujarat Titans in the final game of the league season. Their playoff hopes will improve with a victory. They would need Sunrisers Hyderabad to either beat Mumbai Indians (MI) in their final league encounter or lose by a small enough margin that MI wouldn’t win the series.
