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40-year-old Faf du Plessis was not retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The former South Africa captain did not attract many bids at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction and was picked by Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of Rs 2 crore. As Harry Brook pulled out of the IPL 2025, Du Plessis was named captain Axar Patel's deputy. On DC debut, he contributed with an 18-ball 29 cameo while wickets fell around him in the run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). But, Du Plessis was biting his nails as Ashutosh Sharma pulled off a heist with one-wicket win in last over of the run chase. After the match, Du Plessis opened on up on leaving RCB and the last chapter of his IPL career.
"Lots of life left in the old dog - the nature of the IPL, there's turnover, you will think you will stay at one franchise. There is lots of movement in the auctions. New team and new chapter for me. Moving from Chennai to RCB was a good chapter, the last chapter of the book - how long the pages may be will be with the new team," Du Plessis told the broadcasters after DC's narrow win at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on March 25.
Du Plessis on run chase, Mohit's Ntini moment
Du Plessis said it wasn't an easy wicket to bat on as there was plenty in it for spinners but even after a collapse he believed that the game is not over. He lauded Ashutosh and debutant Vipraj Nigam for turning the game on its head. Also, he compared Mohit Sharma's single to that of Makhaya Ntini's in the record-breaking ODI run chase against Australia in 2006.
"To be honest, when I looked that wicket, saw how much the ball was gripping and losing 5 wickets, thought it was an impossible task. My old brain told me that you are never out of the game and the extra batter makes so much difference. As an overseas player, so may Indian players can strike it so big. The two boys were effortless with their striking," he said.
"Reminded me a lot of the 438 game against Australia when Makhaya Ntini got 1 at the end. That's the most important single that Mohit has got in his life, beautiful forward defence," he added.
DC's next match is in Visakhapatnam as well on March 30. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) who have a menacing batting attack.
