This is a first big jump for Faf du Plessis in his cricket career. In a blow to the IPL’s most lucrative tournament, he created headlines by forgoing the 2026 IPL auction. However, instead he will go on to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), opening a new door in his professional journey. The cricketing world will be watching closely as the 2026 PSL–IPL overlap approaches. The actual dates of those two tournaments are still not publicly known.
Du Plessis features for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the first season of the SA20 league. In a personal farewell tweet, he shared his thanks for his time in India. Reflecting on his time in the IPL, he stated, “This league has been a massive part of my journey. India has given me friendships, lessons and memories that have shaped me as a cricketer and as a person.”
The fourth edition of the SA20 will take place from December 26 to January 25. It suits this timing perfectly to let Du Plessis focus all his energies into the PSL at that time. His choice to withdraw from the IPL will give him the space to immerse himself in this new challenge.
The Pretoria Capitals took the biggest step in that direction by taking an infamous step in signing England batter Jordan Cox. He will take the place of Saqib Mahmood, who is ruled out of the SA20 tournament due to injury. Cox’s addition is expected to bolster the Capitals’ squad as they navigate the competitive landscape of South African cricket.
In his stint with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Du Plessis made just 44 runs at an average of 6.28 from seven innings. Those qualities helped him show his competitive nature and doggedness, despite largely underperforming his potential that year. He’s the first to admit that entering the PSL will bring new challenges, new opportunities and new dynamics.
“This year I’ve chosen to take on a new challenge and will be playing in the upcoming PSL season,” he remarked. “It’s an exciting step for me – a chance to experience something new, to grow as a player and to embrace a league filled with incredible talent and energy.”
At the same time, the Quetta Qavalry continue to dazzle their foes in the still-young tournament. They did so earning a sixth straight victory against the Vista Riders to maintain their perfect record. Earlier, they had beaten the Ajman Titans by three wickets. The Stallions proved their mettle by making it all the way to Sunday’s final. They simply executed their game plan to chase down a target of 120 runs with seven balls to spare. Key performances came from Ben Cutting, who scored 39 off 18 balls, Andre Fletcher with 30 off 15, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz contributing 29 off just 10 deliveries.
Depending on how the cricketing calendar develops, Du Plessis’s decision may be a watershed moment for him and for the leagues where he is headed. His openness to tackle new challenges is a strong testament to his desire to develop as a player.
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