"Didn't get the preparations that I would have liked" - Faf du Plessis on elbow injury ahead of IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis has opened up on the struggles with his elbow ahead of the IPL 2023 season.

RCB defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets on Thursday, May 18th, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. It was RCB's first win at the venue since 2015.

SRH wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen put on a blazing display of batsmanship during his 51-ball 104 to set up a challenging score of 187 in the first innings.

However, RCB openers Virat Kohli (100) and Faf du Plessis (71) nullified Klaasen's assault through via a towering 172-run stand that helped the visitors chase the score in 19.2 overs.

Du Plessis hit his eighth half-century of the season. His 71 from 47 balls took his tally to 702 runs in IPL 2023, 126 runs ahead of Shubman Gill in the race for the Orange Cap.

Centurion Virat Kohli asked his skipper about the phenomenal run of form despite not playing enough matches throughout the season. Faf du Plessis responded with the following:

"I think my game is in a good place. When you are batting, everything is about your gameplan. I think I understand my technique a little better. I am quite clear on what is good options and what is not great options. I was lucky that before the IPL, the SA(20) league in South Africa where I had a really good competition."

Du Plessis didn't lead RCB in three successive matches in the middle of the season and played purely as a batter under the impact substitute rule. Kohli took over the captaincy during this period.

The 38-year-old further highlighted his injury issues ahead of the season and how that restricted his preparations.

Du Plessis said:

"After that I had some time off with my elbow, it was quite sour. So I was frustrated actually to not get prepared for the IPL. I didn't get the preparations that I would have liked. But I think when you get to an age where you become a little bit older, you trust your game a little bit more."

𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!

Presenting a 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 interview with @RCBTweets opening duo - @imVkohli & captain @faf1307 👏 👏

VK & Faf talking cricket is all heart & wholesome ☺️ 🙌 - By @28anand

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"We complement each other very well" - Faf du Plessis on strong partnerships with Virat Kohli

The magnificent 172-run opening partnership between Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli was their third 100-plus stand this season. The pair has accumulated 872 runs together for the opening wicket this season thus far.

Du Plessis and Kohli broke the record for most runs by an opening pair in an IPL season. They broke the record held by David Warner and Jonny Bairstow (791) for SRH in IPL 2019. Speaking about the success of his partnership with Virat Kohli, du Plessis said:

"I think we complement each other very well and how differently we score. It's difficult to bowl to our partnership because we score in different areas."

"I think chemistry is a big thing, people take that for granted. When you feed off each other. I really thrive of your passion and energy. It gets me pumped up. I am more pumped up than you in these last couple of days."

Most opening partnership runs in an IPL season:

872* - Faf & Kohli (RCB), 2023
791 - Warner & Bairstow (SRH), 2019
756 - Faf & Gaikwad (CSK), 2021
744 - Dhawan & Shaw (DC), 2021
731 - Dhawan & Warner (SRH), 2016
#IPL2023 #SRHvRCB

Du Plessis urged Kohli to target 1000 runs between them at the end of the season. Kohli acknowledged the spirit of his captain and aimed to accomplish the feat.

Du Plessis concluded:

"Off the field we really connect well and that rubs onto the field as well. We are not done 1000 (more runs to target in their partnership)."

RCB will play their final league match against table toppers Gujarat Titans on Sunday (May 21st) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.