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Faf du Plessis turns 42 years old on Monday, July 13. It has been more than five years since the right-handed batter played for South Africa. However, he is still a force to be reckoned with in franchise leagues around the world. Du Plessis was exemplary in all three formats for the Proteas. In T20Is, he played 50 matches, amassing 1528 runs at an average of 35.53 and a strike rate of 134.39. This includes 10 fifties and one century. In this article, let’s take a look at the top three T20I performances for the legendary batter.

Faf du Plessis is undoubtedly one of the finest cricketers to have played for South Africa. The former Proteas captain is still churning out runs in franchise leagues around the world. Du Plessis, who is currently in the United States of America, is captaining the Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket 2026. He celebrates his 42nd birthday on Monday, July 13. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, let’s take a look at the legendary batter’s top three performances in ODI cricket.

Faf du Plessis had already made a big name for himself in international cricket before entering the Indian Premier League. He started his career in the cash-rich tournament with the Chennai Super Kings in 2012, but did not play the next season. However, he returned to the side in 2014. In his first three seasons with CSK, du Plessis ensured 300-plus run stints in each of the editions, but the franchise was suspended in 2016 and 2017, enabling him to join Rising Pune Super Giant for these two years, with majority of his CSK compatriots still by his side.

The final of the 2002 NatWest Trophy is a moment etched in the folklore of Indian cricket for various reasons. A solitary One-Day International with so many moments and sub-plots woven together created one of the most iconic matches that the sport has ever seen. A young and spirited India side, led by the spunky southpaw Sourav Ganguly, took on a dominant England in a packed cauldron that was Lord’s, with records not in their favour. Of the nine series finals India had played since 1999, they had lost eight, with the ninth one being abandoned.

Back in the 1970s, the One-Day Internationals emerged as a new format in the game of cricket. Traditionally, 60 overs were given to each side. With roughly a year to go for the first-ever Men’s ODI World Cup in 1975, India entered the field at the Headingley in Leeds to play their maiden one-day match, facing England.

Faf du Plessis is one of the most recognisable names in the modern era. A versatile batter and gun fielder, he is considered one of the greatest South African cricketers to grace the game in the post Jacques-Kallis era. He formed part of a solid Protea core, which competed for each and every trophy and established the nation as a solid threat in all formats. The high backlift, solid defence, merciless pulls and exquisite inside-out lofted drives are hallmarks of one of the most elegant and destructive batters of the modern cricketing world. Still going strong as a franchise league journeyman, aged 41, du Plessis is one of the most storied cricketers to come out of a generation of stars in South Africa.

Match 1 | England vs India ODI Series 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 14 July 2026

Match 2 | WI vs NZ ODI Series 2026 | Providence Stadium, Guyana | 13 July 2026

Match 1 | England vs India ODI Series 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 14 July 2026

The cricketing world’s attention firmly turns to Edgbaston, Birmingham, as two international heavyweights, England and India, prepare to lock horns in the highly anticipated 1st ODI of their three-match series. Scheduled to commence on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 03:30 PM IST (11:00 AM local time), this high-voltage clash promises to deliver unparalleled white-ball excitement. Following an intense five-match T20I series where England secured a dramatic 3-2 victory—culminating in a 56-run triumph in the final match at Southampton—India will be desperate to bounce back and assert their dominance in the 50-over format.

When discussions about the greatest batters in cricket history take place, one name always stands above the rest: Sir Don Bradman. The Australian legend dominated bowlers like no one else, setting records that continue to inspire generations of cricketers.

On July 11, 2025, Italy scripted history by qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time. The Azzurri secured their place at the 2026 edition after finishing second in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Final standings with five points from four matches. The Netherlands topped the table, while Italy edged past Scotland on net run rate to book their historic berth.