Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis announced himself on Test debut in Adelaide in 2012, batting nearly eight hours for an unbeaten 110 in the fourth innings to secure an improbable draw against Australia. That innings set the tone for a career built on defiance and adaptability.

For more than a decade du Plessis was the glue of South Africa's batting order across formats. He scored over 5,500 ODI runs at an average approaching 47, and his fielding, especially his catching, set standards in the side. He captained South Africa in all three formats, leading the team to a Test series win in Australia in 2016-17 and keeping the Proteas near the top of the Test rankings through a period of upheaval.

After retiring from Test cricket in 2021, du Plessis became a global T20 freelancer. In the IPL he won titles with Chennai Super Kings, captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru for three seasons, and moved to Delhi Capitals in 2025. Into his forties he remains an active and productive T20 batter, still opening the innings for franchises around the world.