Faf du Plessis is a South African cricketer who has had a successful career as a batsman and captain of the South Africa national cricket team. He is known for his leadership style, which focuses on honesty and vulnerability, and has written an autobiography that shares his experiences and lessons learned throughout his career. This article explored Faf du Plessis Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, controversies, awards and achievements.

Faf du Plessis Net Worth

Early Years

François “Faf” du Plessis was born on July 13, 1984, in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa. He comes from a sporting family, with his father, Francois du Plessis, being a South African rugby player, and his cousin, Marcel du Plessis, being a Namibian rugby star. Faf du Plessis attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria and later graduated from the University of Pretoria.

Career

Du Plessis is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg-break bowler. In 2008, Du Plessis signed a six-month Kolpak deal with Lancashire County Cricket Club after excelling in local Nottinghamshire levels and the Lancashire League. Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson lauded his remarkable fielding abilities, prompting a new three-year deal with the club. Unfortunately, changes to Kolpak regulations in 2010 terminated his time with Lancashire.

In 2011, du Plessis signed with the Chennai Super Kings for the Indian Premier League and was named one of South Africa Cricket Annual’s Players of the Year. He was also included to South Africa’s preliminary World Cup team in 2011. In 2018, he joined the Paarl Rocks for the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20 competition, where he scored the most runs for the squad.

In 2019, du Plessis represented the Edmonton Royals in the Global T20 Canada and guided the Paarl Rocks to their maiden Mzansi Super League triumph. He was recruited by the Colombo Kings for the Lanka Premier League in 2020 and then played for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League playoffs. In 2021, he joined the Quetta Gladiators of the PSL, but was sidelined with a concussion. He later led the Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League and the Bangla Tigers in the T10 League before being picked for the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League.

In 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired du Plessis and designated him captain. He also competed for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred and was recruited by the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. In 2023, he was named captain of the Texas Super Kings for the inaugural season of Major League Cricket.

International

On January 18, 2011, Faf du Plessis had a great ODI debut against India, batting an undefeated 60 runs. His early promise won him a position on South Africa’s 2011 World Cup team. He made his Test debut in 2012 against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, replacing the injured JP Duminy. In this match, he made 188 runs and was chosen Man-of-the-Match for his gritty effort, which helped South Africa win the series.

In the series’ final Test, du Plessis hit 78 runs in the first innings and a critical 110 not out in the second, securing a draw and helping South Africa win the series. He continued his impressive form at the WACA Ground, scoring an undefeated 78 to help his side recover from a hazardous situation and contribute to their series triumph against Australia. His leadership abilities were recognised in December 2012, when he was named captain of South Africa’s Twenty20 side for a series against New Zealand.

Du Plessis suffered a setback in October 2013, when he was punished for ball tampering during a Test match against Pakistan. However, he bounced back in December 2013 with a crucial 134-run innings against India, almost clinching South Africa’s record chase. His batting talent continued to shine in 2014, when he hit his first ODI century against Australia, followed by two more hundreds against Australia and Zimbabwe. He missed his fourth consecutive century by four runs.

In December 2014, du Plessis set a record by playing 108 international innings before scoring his first duck. On January 11, 2015, he became the first South African to reach century in all three versions of the game, with 119 runs against the West Indies.

2016-2021

In 2016, du Plessis was selected captain of South Africa’s one-day international series against Australia, replacing the injured AB de Villiers. He created history by being the second player to score hundreds in all international formats as captain, and the first to do it at a single location. He also established a record for the lowest undefeated declaration as captain, scoring 118 runs in a day/night Test.

As South Africa’s Test captain since December 2016, du Plessis has continued to succeed, making 185 runs against Sri Lanka in February 2017, the second-highest individual score by a South African in one-day internationals. He prioritised team culture and good relationships despite difficult team transitions and selection quotas.

In March 2019, du Plessis reached 5,000 ODI runs. He captained South Africa in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, finishing as the team’s leading run-scorer with 387 runs. His outstanding year was finished off by being voted Men’s Cricketer of the Year at Cricket South Africa’s annual awards ceremony in August 2019.

Du Plessis scored his best Test score of 199 against Sri Lanka in December 2020, making his 4,000th Test run in the same match. He announced his retirement from Test cricket on February 17, 2021, having captained South Africa in 36 matches.

During his career, du Plessis scored 10 century in Tests, 12 in ODIs, and one in T20Is. His first Test century was an unbroken 110 against Australia in 2012, and his best score was 199 against Sri Lanka in 2020. His greatest ODI score was 185 against Sri Lanka in 2017, while his sole T20I century was 119 against the West Indies in 2015, making him the first South African to hit hundreds in all three formats of cricket.

Personal Life

Faf du Plessis married Imari Visser in 2013, and they have two daughters, Amélie and Zoey. He is a Christian and enjoys watching Formula One racing.

He published his auto biography “FAF: Through Fire” in 2023.

Controversies

In 2013, he was found guilty of ball tampering during a Test match against Pakistan. He was fined 50% of his match fee and received a suspended one-Test ban.

Du Plessis faced controversy related to ball tampering during a Test match against Australia in 2016.

Awards and Achievements

Du Plessis received the South African Cricketer of the Year award in 2019 and the Annual Player of the Year for South Africa in 2011. He has also been named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2017.

He has the distinction of being the first international captain to defeat Australia in any format. In a five-match ODI series against Australia in 2016, he defeated them 5-0. His winning record in ODIs is an astounding 73.68%. Du Plessis’ accomplishments went beyond the pitch, making him one of the most successful leaders of his time.

Records

Faf du Plessis holds several international records, including:

– The second batter to have scored a century as a captain in all three formats of the game.
– The first South African to score centuries in the three formats of the game.
– The second-highest individual score by a South African cricketer with 185 runs.
– The most innings before scoring a duck in international cricket (108).

Frequently Asked Questions About Faf du Plessis

1. Who is Faf du Plessis?

Faf is a South African professional cricketer and former captain of the South Africa national cricket team.

2. When was Faf du Plessis born?

Faf du Plessis was born on July 13, 1984.

3. What is Faf du Plessis’s height?

Faf du Plessis is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall.

4. Did du Plessis ever play rugby?

Yes, during his primary school days, Faf enjoyed kicking and running with the ball in rugby. However, he eventually lost interest due to tackling and fear of injuries. Interestingly, he broke his wrist at the age of 16, which led him to focus more on cricket.

5. What awards has du Plessis received?

Du Plessis was named the South African Cricketer of the Year in 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the game.

6. How much is Faf du Plessis’s net worth?

His net worth is around $14 million.

7. What teams has Faf du Plessis played for?

Faf du Plessis has played for Northerns, Lancashire, Titans, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant, Chennai Super Kings, Paarl Rocks, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Joburg Super Kings.

8. Any controversies surrounding Faf du Plessis?

Du Plessis faced ball-tampering controversy during a Test match against Australia in 2016.

9. What is Faf du Plessis’s highest individual score?

Faf du Plessis’s highest individual score is 119 in 56 balls against West Indies.

10. Has Faf du Plessis scored centuries in all formats?

u Plessis achieved the rare feat of scoring centuries in Test, ODI, and T20 formats.

11. What’s Faf du Plessis’s winning percentage as an ODI captain?

His winning percentage in ODIs stands at an impressive 73.68%.

12. What is Faf du Plessis’s bowling style?

du Plessis is a right-arm bowler.

Conclusion

Faf du Plessis is a renowned cricketer with a remarkable decade-long career. He has been a consistent performer for the South African cricket team while also enjoying success in franchise cricket.