Faf du Plessis eyeing T20 series against India as build up to 2016 World T20
South Africa’s T20 skipper Faf du Plessis is eyeing the upcoming T20 series against India as build up to the 2016 World T20 which will be hosted by India, ESPNCricinfo reports. He revealed that he would be using the three-match series as an opportunity for the younger players to get used to playing in Indian conditions.
Du Plessis is very much aware of the conditions the South Africans are likely to encounter in the series starting on October 2 with him being an integral member of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 31-year-old acknowledged though that the players in the squad who doesn’t possess the experience of playing in the T20 league will find the prospect of facing huge crowds, daunting.
"A few of us are used to those crowds of 50,000 or 60,000 people, but for the younger guys it's something to get used to. When you get there at the beginning of your career, the fans can be quite intimidating," du Plessis said. "The challenge for us as a team is that we have a few younger players that haven't travelled as much so we need to try and bridge that gap as quickly as possible."
The next edition of the World T20 is set to be hosted by India next year and Du Plessis is thrilled at having got the opportunity to face India, who are undoubtedly one of the favourites to clinch the trophy, in their own backyard.
"I am excited for this tour because it’s in India, where we are going to play the World T20. There are a few guys who are getting (an) opportunity, guys who can potentially make an impact in these conditions. If you look at someone like Eddie Leie, he is probably a left-field inclusion but it is to give guys who are not as experienced as playing in India through the IPL an opportunity," du Plessis said. "Everything that we do as a T20 side is geared towards that World T20 and there is no difference for this series."
Du Plessis compares captaincy styles of Dhoni and Kohli
Du Plessis is one of only six South African players who has been included in the squad for all three formats and as such will get an opportunity to face the contrasting captaincy styles of MS Dhoni, who will captain India in the T20s and ODIs before Virat Kohli takes on the mantle in the Test format. Du Plessis is well aware of Dhoni’s captaincy having played under him for CSK and believes Dhoni is an inspirational figure on the field.
"MS' strength as a captain is his cricket brain. He controls everything on the field - everything is up to him," du Plessis explained. "He will set the field. He will tell the bowler what to bowl. He will decide the batting order, he will decide when he goes into bat, he is a very powerful member in that Indian team. And MS is very calm. When there is real pressure in the field, guys look to MS."
Du Plessis is however fully aware that Kohli is an altogether different proposition but revealed that the Proteas will not shy away from showing aggressiveness of their own if needed.
"Virat is a little more aggressive and in your face and with his style of captaincy, he will demand a bit of that from his players as well," du Plessis said. "We'll see a little bit more of that in this series than we usually do from India. Usually, they are pretty chilled and smile and relaxed on the field and just talk around the bat when the spinners are bowling, but it's a new phase of Indian cricket and we've also got a few guys who can do a bit of that."