Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis has become the second-fastest to 1,000 runs for the Bangalore-based franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Du Plessis achieved the milestone in 27 innings compared to former RCB opener Chris Gayle who did it from just 20 innings. He surpassed Glenn Maxwell who was on the batting at the other end. Maxwell had completed 1,000 runs for RCB from 34 innings.
Du Plessis also became the seventh batter to score 1,000 or more runs for RCB in IPL 2023.
Here is a list of RCB batters with 1,000 or more runs
1. Virat Kohli - 7,468 runs
2. AB de Villiers - 4,522 runs
3. Chris Gayle - 3,420 runs
4. Jacques Kallis - 1,271 runs
5. Glenn Maxwell - 1,144 runs
6. Rahul Dravid - 1,132 runs
7. Faf du Plessis - 1,044 runs
Against Mumbai Indians (MI), Du Plessis lost his opener partner Kohli in the first over itself. In the third over, Anuj Rawat could not justify his promotion up the order and departed for a single-digit score.
Du Plessis and Maxwell got RCB's innings back on track with a 120-run partnership for the third wicket. The Proteas batter scored 65 runs from 41 balls including five fours and three sixes. He batted with a strike rate of 158.54. He fell victim to Australian all-rounder Cameron Green but his 65-run knock helped RCB post 199/6.
“Spending time out there and having fun with Faf, it was enjoyable. I think it was around a 200-wicket, but there were a few balls that kept low. We are happy with that score,” Maxwell said as he lauded the RCB skipper during the innings break.
Du Plessis is currently leading the Orange Cap race. He has scored 576 runs from 11 innings at an average of 57.60 including six half-centuries. He has scored at a healthy strike rate of 157.80. The 38-year-old's highest score of the season came against Punjab Kings, when he scored 84 in a winning cause at Mohali. He is just 58 runs away from his best IPL season with the bat.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IPL 2023: Check complete list of top 5 run-scorers and wicket-takers as the race for Orange and Purple Cap heats up
Big News: England's T20 specialist replaces injured Jofra Archer in Mumbai Indians' squad for remainder of IPL 2023
