‘How hungry am I still to play the game?’ – Faf du Plessis reflects his cricketing future ahead of SA20 2025

Action-packed cricket and entertainment for the cricket community are expected to be highlights of the month-long event. The Johannesburg Super Kings’ captain and former South African captain, Faf du Plessis, discussed how the game has changed and how teams are choosing to hire both experienced players and young players.

The SA20’s 2025 edition is set to start on January 9, 2025. Since the squads and tournament schedule were made public, the anticipation for the third iteration of this franchise competition has been soaring.

Additionally, he clarified that for aspiring cricket players, interacting with and learning from the world’s top players would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grasp the subtleties of the sport.

“I noticed that there was a period at first when people gravitated towards the youth and young men and their enthusiasm in the IPL and T20 competitions around the world. However, there was a near-reversal of trend when people began examining what factors work in T20 competitions. And now that I’ve looked at all the competitions, I can see that many people with experience are being hired.

However, it’s crucial to have that youth,” Faf du Plessis said during a press conference prior to the tournament’s start.

The fact that we have a rookie in every squad is crucial because, in my opinion, it is the best policy for any young player leaving school. That’s fantastic, but it’s also fantastic that young men just out of school are interacting with men twice their age. They also get to interact with men who play cricket all over the world, which is something I believe you cannot purchase—that’s fantastic learning for them. That’s what the competition breeds,” du Plessis went on.

The 40-year-old former Proteas mainstay also offered some insights into what motivates him to play the game with the same tenacity as before. The former captain of South Africa also brought up the example of Imran Tahir, a former teammate. Tahir was still as passionate about the game as he was when he was playing for the country, he noted.

However, I still feel the same way at my age. I am unable to tell you how long I can stay. For me, it’s just a matter of staying true to who I am and where I am in my career; I assumed I would be finished by now. How eager am I to play the game now? And I still have a strong desire to continue doing what I have been doing for the past few years. “Who knows,” he added, “my body is still feeling great and my mind is clear.

“I believe Imran Tahir is also establishing the benchmark for the tournament’s Gandalf there. Yes, you can push yourself much more with this format now. Sportsmen all across the world are doing this for longer than they have ever done because, you know, sport has improved. I want to compete for as long as I can because this is a terrific competition,” du Plessis said in closing.

In the SA20 2025 season, Tahir is about to become the oldest cricket player.

Imran Tahir, a 45-year-old ace leg spinner, is expected to make history by being the oldest player to play in the SA20 2025 tournament. Faf du Plessis, however, is the second oldest of the group at 40. At St. George’s Park in Gqeberha, Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town will play the first game of the tournament.