Faf du Plessis scored half a century on the IPL captaincy debut.
Faf du Plessis made his mark in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s campaign opener against Punjab Kings when he played the captain’s knock by scoring a 57-ball 88. By winning the toss, PBKS sent RCB to bat first. Openers Anuj Rawat and Faf got off to a successful start as the two ended the power play by scoring 41 runs, and Odean Smith gave up 10 runs in the second left over he pitched.
Du Plessis started off slow, but picked up the pace as he progressed through the game. After his partnership with Rawat was broken, he formed an even better partnership with ex-captain Virat Kohlic and went on to score on just 42 balls for half a century. He brought out his fifty with his signature shot as the ball was struck for a six.
Faf du Plessis kickstart in captain’s armband in style
The two set up a 118-run stand for the second wicket and Faf continued to hit the bowlers for multiple limits. Before the start of the last four overs, RCB’s score rose to 158/1. Faf is known for giving a team the perfect start as an opener. He did that for the Chennai Super Kings until the 2021 editions and continued his form for RCB.
The Faf show came to an end when Arshdeep Singh fired him in the 18th as he was closing out an IPL century. He was caught long range by Shahrukh Khan and had to leave with 88 runs off 57 balls. Virat Kohli also played an impressive 41*(29) knock, including a four and two maximums.
During his 88 knockout, Faf also completed 3000 runs in IPL, becoming the seventh overseas player to achieve this feat. For Faf, it was Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, David Warner, Shane Watson and Kieron Pollard who crossed the 3000-run mark. He became the top scorer for his side in his very first game for the team.
Speaking of the match, it rained limits in the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. RCB set a target of 206 for PBKS to chase in 20 overs, while Faf, Kohli and Dinesh Karthik took their team to a huge score of 205/2. Virat’s Show came to a halt as Karthik entered the crease, scoring a 32*(14) with three sixes and as many fours.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at how Twitter reacted to the fireworks from RCB batters:
CSK Owners and Fans Watch Faf Du Plessis pic.twitter.com/wQA3dDeEtM
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 27, 2022
First match of the tournament:
Retired Former Indian Captain MS Dhoni: 50 (38)
Retired Former SA Captain Faf du Plessis: 88 (57)
What a tournament the @IPL is!#IPL2022
— Yash Lahoti #CWC22 (@YvLahoti) March 27, 2022
Players with 200+ SR in death after walking in to hit in power play (minus 10 such innings)
AB de Villiers
Virat Kohlic
Chris Gaylea
Sanju Samson
Faf du Plessis
Mike Hussey
Shane Watson#IPL2022 #PBKSvsRCB— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) March 27, 2022
No one can tell you what’s called mixed feelings better than CSK fans watching Faf Du Plessis play such glorious innings as captain. Happy for what he’s known for, sad for not playing for us anymore.
— Neeche Se Topper (@NeecheSeTopper) March 27, 2022
CSK fans watch Faf Du Plessis #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/Pl6nSbahcj
— Mahesh Aashiq 🇮🇳 (@MaheshAashiq) March 27, 2022
It’s like ABD never left and instead opened for RCB! #CSK #RCBvsPBKS #FafDuPlessis #ABDevilliers
— Prasad Mukhedkar (@mukhedkar_17) March 27, 2022
88 in 57 #FafDuPlessis was just amazing today#RCBvsPBKS #IPL2022#TataIPL2022
CSK fans are like: pic.twitter.com/kAlC1PTOYu
— Asjad II اسجد♛ (@iamasjadraza7) March 27, 2022
#FafDuPlessis #RCBvPBKS #PBKSvRCB
How Faf Du Plessis started and converted his innings pic.twitter.com/9Ps0KFWwLB
— g0v!ñD $#@®mA (@rishu_1809) March 27, 2022
Surprise Surprise THE KING IS BACK 👑
VIRAT KOHLI ️👊 @imVkohli #RCB #RCBvsPBKS #RCBvPBKS #IPL2022 #CricketKaBhoot
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) March 27, 2022
Virat Kohli becomes the first player to bat in 200 T20 innings for a single team in IPL.
The next highest is 171 innings by Suresh Raina for CSK.#IPL2022 #RCBvPBKS
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 27, 2022
As he hit today, you can call him Faf Two Plessis. #RCBvPBKS
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 27, 2022
#CSK comments from fans now.#TataIPL #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/8EAZ1fPFGn
— S. Badrinath (@s_badrinath) March 27, 2022
The thing about the best t20 hitters is that 1 don’t freak out if you fight a little 2 read the bowler and make the right decisions like Faf did against Smith and 3 continue your innings when you’re done. Brilliant display for any batter this @faf1307 @RCBTweets
— Niall John O Brien (@niallnobiobrien) March 27, 2022
Nidahas trophy tweet every time DK gets it on covers 😉#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 #RCB #ನಮ್ಮRCB #PBKSvRCB
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 27, 2022
duke. Dar. Pain. pic.twitter.com/9xhov8TbLP
— Manya (@CSKian716) March 27, 2022
el capitano, what a blow!#IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/urrXh3jbyp
— Prajakta (@18prajakta) March 27, 2022
Faf insured @RCBTweets don’t miss AB & Maxi. And that says it all about these innings. what a blow #PBKSvRCB #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Sm5rBpDjcI
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 27, 2022
Masterclass from DK. So good to see him at his best again – written off bizarrely fast
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) March 27, 2022
DK sets high standards for Raina as a commentator turned cricketer.
— Manya (@CSKian716) March 27, 2022