Faf du Plessis named RCB captain for IPL 2022
Experienced South African batter Faf du Plessis has been named Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. The announcement was made by the franchise at an event on Saturday.
Du Plessis was purchased by RCB at the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru last month for ₹7 crore. He was a key member of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) outfit that captured the IPL 2021 title.
RCB's New Captain Faf du plessis wear RCB's Jacket and Cap. https://t.co/lZlVy9OLZS
Opening the innings for CSK, the 37-year-old smashed 633 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.20. He was the Player of the Final for his brilliant 86 in only 59 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes. Du Plessis fell just two runs short of his opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad's tally, who won the Orange Cap for scoring 635 runs.
Du Plessis, a former South African captain, has featured in exactly 100 IPL games so far, amassing 2935 runs at an average of 34.94 and a strike rate of 131.08. He has 22 half-centuries to his name with a highest score of 96.
RCB squad for IPL 2022
RCB purchased 19 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru last month. They bought back pacer Harshal Patel, who was the Purple Cap winner during IPL 2021, for ₹10.75 crore. RCB also spent the same amount on Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
Among their other big purchases, the Bangalore franchise picked Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood (₹7.75 crore) and Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik (₹5.50 crore).
RCB had retained former captain Virat Kohli (₹15 crore), Australian batter Glenn Maxwell (₹11 crore) and pacer Mohammad Siraj (₹7 crore) ahead of the mega auction.
Here's the full squad: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Faf du Plessis, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Shahbaz Ahmed, David Willey, Sherfane Rutherford, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Jason Behrendorff, Siddharth Kaul, Karn Sharma, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Akash Deep, Luvnith Sisodia