Faf du Plessis to play for Super Kings in CSA T20 League

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis has renewed his association with Chennai Super Kings as he has been roped in by the franchise as their marquee signing for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) league, commencing early next year, according to reports.

The former South African skipper was part of CSK for almost a decade from 2011 to 2021, with the exception of 2016 and 2017, when the franchise was suspended from participating in the IPL. Du Plessis was prized away by the Bangalored-based franchise in the 2022 auction as CSK failed to retain their mercurial talent.

Although the franchises are yet to reveal their signings, reports suggest that CSK-owned Johannesburg franchise has also acquired the services of English all-rounder Moeen Ali, who represents the Men in Yellow in the IPL and opted for the CSA league instead of the UAE League (ILT20).

The CSA league authorities have asked the franchises to submit a list of five players under the paramount principle. The list needs to include one South African, three overseas players with not more than two from the same country, and one uncapped player.

MI Cape Town, owned by the Mumbai Indians have hit the ground running with some big signings

The reports have further established that the Pretoria team (owned by Delhi Capitals) and Port Elizabeth team (owned by Sunrisers Hyderabad) have retained the services of South African players Anrich Nortje and Aiden Markram, respectively. The Paarl-based franchise backed by the Rajasthan Royals has retained their belligerent English white-ball skipper Jos Buttler in the squad, while LSG’s Durban team is understood to have retained the services of Quinton de Kock.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians, who unveiled their CSA league franchises’ name yesterday, MI Cape Town, are believed to have made some high-profile signings. According to reports, they have persuaded some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, with the likes of Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan for their Cape Town-based team, and will be donning the iconic blue and gold jerseys, reminiscent of the outfit of the five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians.