Faf Du Plessis Out for SA20 Season Due to Thumb Injury
Faf Du Plessis Faces Surgery After Thumb Injury
Johannesburg, South Africa - January 13: The captain of Joburg Super Kings (JSK), Faf Du Plessis, has suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb, which will require surgery and has sidelined him for the remainder of the SA20 season.
The injury occurred during a match against MI Cape Town on Saturday when the 41-year-old was fielding in the first innings. His team attempted to chase down a target of 235 without his batting contribution. Despite commendable half-centuries from James Vince and Dian Forrester, JSK fell short, finishing at 198/5 in their allotted overs.
JSK's head coach, Stephen Fleming, addressed the media after the match, confirming the severity of the injury, stating that it was challenging for Du Plessis to grip his bat.
“He jammed his thumb into the ground, causing significant damage,” Fleming explained, as reported by a sports news outlet. “Losing him is a setback, especially when chasing a high score; we need our key players on the field.”
Fleming expressed cautious optimism, hoping the injury might just be bruising, but acknowledged the team's ongoing injury struggles. “I tend to be a bit pessimistic about these situations, so while I hope for the best, we may need to consider alternative plans,” he added.
In five innings this season, Du Plessis has accumulated 135 runs, averaging 151.68, with a top score of 47. This injury marks another significant setback for JSK, following a hamstring injury to fellow South African player Rilee Rossouw, who is also out for the season.
Under Du Plessis's leadership, JSK has reached the playoffs in all three previous seasons but has yet to secure a championship title. Over 40 matches and 36 innings, he has scored 1,029 runs at an average of 32.15, boasting a strike rate close to 144, including one century and seven fifties.
Currently, JSK sits in third place on the points table, having won three out of seven matches, totaling 17 points, trailing behind Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.