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The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as Faf du Plessis, the former South Africa skipper and the stylish batter, prepares to lead CSK’s sister franchise, Joburg Super Kings (JSK), in the upcoming second edition of SA20.
It is worth mentioning that Faf’s cricketing journey has been nothing short of remarkable, especially considering his heartfelt connection with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he spent almost a decade showcasing his skills.
Faf Du Plessis’ CSK bond and IPL 2022 captaincy
A right-handed batter known for his elegance on the field, Du Plessis took the helm of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as their skipper in the 16th edition of the IPL last year. This move came after his long-standing association with CSK, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s victories, particularly in several crucial finals. In his recent interaction with the press, Du Plessis expressed gratitude towards the Chennai-based franchise for nurturing and aiding in his improvement over the years.
Learning from the best: MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming
During a press conference ahead of SA20 2024, Du Plessis took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his time with CSK. He showered praise on the team’s captain, MS Dhoni, and head coach, Stephen Fleming, emphasizing the impact they had on his cricketing journey. The 39-year-old highlighted the learning curve he experienced under the guidance of these cricketing stalwarts.
“Firstly, it was great to be part of that dressing room as a young guy. Probably my biggest learning curve was being fortunate enough to be there under Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni really at the start of my initial journey. Just to see the big guns do things, it was great to learn from them. During my first season, I was just sitting and asking questions and observing them,” said Du Plessis.
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Learning from Captain Cool – MS Dhoni
Du Plessis acknowledged the significant role Dhoni played in shaping his approach to leadership and the game itself. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play under the iconic Captain Cool during the initial stages of his career and shared insights into the calm and composed demeanour of Dhoni under pressure.
“Also, by playing under some great leaders, you also get to understand that it’s really important to do things that work for you. It’s not possible to copy different styles all the time,” Du Plessis highlighted.
Faf du Plessis also touched upon a crucial aspect of leadership that he learned from his experiences – the importance of embracing one’s own style. He emphasized that while learning from great leaders, it’s essential to understand that “it’s not possible to copy different styles all the time.” The insight highlighted the uniqueness of individual leadership styles and the necessity for players to discover and implement strategies that work best for them.
“MS is Captain Cool, as they call him. He is always very calm under pressure. So it’s always important that under pressure or when the stakes are a bit more higher, you remain relaxed and it makes a big difference to the bowling attack, especially. Very lucky to have played under him,” the former Proteas remarked.
