Former CSK opener and the captain of Joburg Super Kings and Texas Super Kings, Faf du Plessis, has announced his decision to withdraw his name from the IPL Auction pool. This decision comes just weeks before the IPL auction, which is set to take place on December 15.
To announce his decision to step away from the IPL, Faf du Plessis took to social media, saying he will not play in the IPL for the first time in 14 years.
The statement further read: It’s a big decision, and one that comes with a lot of gratitude when I look back. This league has been a massive part of my journey. I’ve been lucky to play with world-class teammates, for amazing franchises, and in front of fans whose passion is like nothing else.
Faf du Plessis in IPL
Faf made his IPL debut in 2012, playing for Chennai Super Kings. In his very first season, he caught everyone’s attention by scoring 398 runs at an average of 33 and a strike rate in excess of 130. And rest, as they say, is history.
In total, he featured in 92 games for the Chennai Super Kings, scoring 2721 runs at an average of 37. He was also part of their cup wins in 2018 and 2021, playing an integral role in the title glory.
Following this, he played for RCB for 2 years and had a brief stint with Delhi Capitals in 2025. But after poor team performance, he was axed from the squad, which might have led him to opt out of the auction.
Let’s face it, the age of talent in IPL is getting younger by the day, and Faf is not. The player is already 41 years old and plays in several leagues around the world. Hence, it’s only normal for him to know what his body is capable of and want to play in a less demanding league: PSL.
What does Faf’s absence from IPL mean for Super Kings’ fans?
Faf du Plessis’ absence from IPL will have no impact on his commitment towards the other teams. The player will continue to feature in his home league, SA20, wherewhere he will take up the role of captain of Joburg Super Kings.
Also, IPL absence comes as a blessing in disguise for us. Since PSL is shorter and soon followed by MLC, we will have a sharp yet rested captain for the showdown in America with Texas.
