Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Delhi Capitals (DC) registered their first defeat of the ongoing IPL 2025 as they went down by 12 runs against the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, April 13. Coming into the match after four straight wins, DC missed the services of veteran Faf du Plessis, who was forced to sit out due to some injury.
However, the nature of the injury remains unknown, the Protean international himself later spoke about it. Speaking ahead of the fixture, which saw Abishek Porel replace him in the playing XI, Faf clarified that he sustained an injury while fielding in DC’s previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Faf du Plessis shares BIG update on his injury ahead of DC’s next match against RR
The opening batter also revealed that he was given an option to come out as an impact player, but the Protean wanted to take the field also, which did not rest well with the support staff. “Unfortunately, my nature last week… the boys offered me the chance to play the game just as an impact batsman but the competitor in me wanted to field as well and I regret that decision right now standing here. Unfortunately today, I’m not wearing the spikes but rather the pantoufles," du Plessis told the broadcasters.
However, the 38-year-old expressed his desire to be fit within a week’s time and get ready to come back strongly for the side. “I have been really lucky in the last three years of my career. That's why I pride myself so much on finishing competitions and not miss out through injury. This is new grounds for me in terms of like where you are trying to be 100 per cent fit but you are not quite there. The competitor in you wants to get back as soon as possible but playing the patient game. Hopefully, I get that right over the next week and be ready for the half and the back end of the tournament," he added.
The opener has so far featured in three games only out of the side’s five games, where he has got 81 runs at an average of 27 and a strike rate of 155.76. His highest score of 50 came against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Axar Patel-led franchise will hope to overcome their recent defeat when they host Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, April 16.
