Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of cricket operations Mike Hesson assures have their plans set in stone for the next three years under the captaincy of Faf du Plessis. The South African, who joined the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022, could be the team’s skipper for the successive editions of the IPL, indicated Hesson.
Hesson spoke effusively in praise for the Proteas stalwart, saying du Plessis’ man-management skills and leadership style have been influential to the team’s cause. Taking over from Indian great Virat Kohli, du Plessis has overseen RCB’s surge to the playoffs with eight wins from 14 league stage games.
There were doubts around South African’s viability as a playing member of the side given his age, but the right-hander has somewhat answered those by scoring 443 runs at a strike-rate of 130.67 in the tournament.
Hesson said the moment RCB brought in du Plessis in their camp, they identified him as Kohli’s successor and used his wealth of experience to build a culture within the group, which would help the popular franchise take new heights and clinch their maiden Premier League title.
“Faf has been great. Once we decided and made him aware of that (captaincy), it was all about him actually coming in and contributing to the culture.”
“For me, culture happens first. It is something quite hard to define. It is more about how you react under pressure, towards your teammates and Faf is big on that. He is big on creating a legacy as well.”
“We actually have got set things in place for the next three years and hopefully beyond. He also has the capability of bringing people along for a ride, which I think is really important,”
Hesson said in a video released by the franchise on Twitter.
Bangalore had unveiled du Plessis as skipper just days ahead of the IPL 2022, with the player getting the nod over other potential Kohli replacements in veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and Australian batting maverick Glenn Maxwell.
The captain had said the opportunity to claim a maiden IPL crown for RCB is what truly enticed him towards the captaincy gig. The 37-year-old, who had a longstanding association with four-time champions Chennai Super Kings previously, had earmarked it as a “massive” challenge and one that he couldn’t have refused.
From the outside, fans and experts have lauded the South African for bringing in the sense of stability to the team selection and on-field approach to the game, something RCB were accused of lacking in the years before. Under du Plessis, the side have stuck to their players through thick and thin, and found a way to overcome various oppositions to make the playoffs.
Du Plessis had never previously captained a side in the IPL, but his experience at the international stage with South Africa has helped immensely with the RCB stint. Before contentiously falling out of favour at the top level, du Plessis had a long run as captain of South Africa, leading his country in 36 Tests, 39 ODIs and 37 T20Is.
The veteran now has an opportunity to do what no RCB captain has done before: lift an IPL trophy. Finishing fourth, the team now stands three steps away from the coveted silverware. The first of which pits du Plessis and his men against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator on May 25.
