CSK in IPL are exactly opposite of what South Africa are in the World Cups: Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though they have won the title most times like Mumbai Indians (MI), the team, under MS Dhoni, has qualified for the playoffs each and every season it has played. No other side has managed those heroics and South Africa cricketer Faf du Plessis reckons the never-say-die attitude of the CSK is the reason for the same.

He has been playing for the franchise over the last two years now when the CSK made a comeback to the IPL after a two-year hiatus. Rather Du Plessis played a crucial role in the team winning the trophy thanks to his match-winning knock against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first qualifier which helped in the team making it to the final.

During the live Instagram session with Pommie Mbangwa, Faf du Plessis termed South Africa’s performances at the World Cups exactly opposite to the CSK’s in all the IPL seasons so far. He reckons that some one or the other player puts his hand up for the franchise to win them the matches. but things go haywire for the Proteas when the game is in balance almost everytime.

“That’s (CSK’s never-say-die attitude) the opposite of what we (South Africa) are like in World Cups. No matter how bad it looks on the field, there’s a confidence in the dressing room that someone will pull through. A lot of the time, it’s someone different. MS Dhoni is one guy who’s done a lot of it but the rest of the guys share the load in winning games.

“It’s just a confidence thing by doing it over and over again, so you’re a lot more relaxed. From a South African perspective in World Cups, we haven’t done it. When you get to a 50-50 perspective, the game just slides to the opposition the majority of the time,” he said.

There are a lot of thinking cricketers in dressing room, Faf du Plessis

Furthermore, the former South Africa skipper recited his experience with the CSK since he has joined the team. He lauded the way MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming have worked together and also recalled how they were trolled in 2018 for having most of their players aged above 32-33. Eventually, the team went on to win the 2018 season to shut all the trolls.

“My experience with Chennai has been a really calm dressing room, a good captain, a good coach in the side. Last year, we got called the Grandads’ XI, but that’s experience. There are a lot of thinking cricketers in the dressing room and many international captains as well,” Faf du Plessis added.