In a world of franchise firsts and full-time freelancers, cricket has evolved. What hasn’t, it seems, is South Africa’s approach to selection—still clinging to the notion that international cricket must be the bedrock of participation, even in a T20 World Cup. But if modern cricket has taught us anything, it’s that allegiance is fluid, tournament windows are sacred, and form is the currency that counts.
So here’s the case, simple and undeniable: Faf du Plessis must be selected for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
He’ll be 41 by then. And? That’s not a problem—that’s a marketing angle. T20 is no longer a young man’s game; it’s a specialist’s game. You don’t need to be playing ODIs in November to walk out in a World Cup semi-final in June. You just need to be good enough.
And Faf is. Unequivocally.
🔥 T20 Form That Refuses to Fade
In 2025 alone, Faf has scored 451 runs across SA20 and IPL at an average of 30.07 and a strike rate of 136.15. That includes a blistering 87 in the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings and a 62 against KKR in IPL 2025—on Indian soil, no less, where next year’s World Cup will be held.
But this isn’t just a flash-in-the-pan season. It’s part of a three-year arc of elite consistency:
| Player | 2023 IPL Runs | 2024 IPL Runs | 2025 IPL Runs | Total Runs (2023–25) | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faf du Plessis | 730 | 438 | 165 | 1,333 | 39.20 | 152.10 | 14 | 64 |
| Quinton de Kock | 143 | 250 | 143 | 536 | 24.36 | 137.50 | 5 | 28 |
🧢 Not Retired. Just Ignored.
Du Plessis has made it clear: he’s not retired from T20 internationals. He just hasn’t been selected. The Proteas haven’t picked him since 2020, not due to form, but due to policy, politics, or perhaps some misplaced sense of continuity.
But let’s talk continuity: what’s more dependable than three years of IPL excellence in the exact conditions where the next World Cup will be played?
If Australia can parachute in David Warner for one last run, if India can give Rohit and Kohli extended ropes, and if T20 leagues globally can make room for 40-somethings thriving on muscle memory and match awareness, why can’t South Africa call Faf up for one final ride?
🤔 The Quinton Conundrum
And here’s where it gets strange.
South Africa’s current T20 World Cup plans reportedly still have Quinton de Kock in mind. But based on the table above, the numbers don’t lie. Faf has scored nearly 800 more runs, at a higher average and strike rate, with more fifties and more sixes.
If Quinton is still in the mix, why isn’t Faf even in the conversation? It reeks of selective nostalgia—choosing one veteran for old times’ sake, but leaving another, better-performing one out in the cold.
✊ A Mercenary Era Needs Mercenary Thinking
Let’s be honest: the age of central contracts dictating World Cup squads is over. Most teams now assemble their T20 World Cup lineups like you would a fantasy XI—based on form, matchups, and familiarity with conditions.
Faf du Plessis is not just familiar with Indian conditions—he’s dominated them. In a high-pressure environment, he’s cool-headed, fit, and offers elite fielding and leadership as a bonus.
A World Cup isn’t about building for the future. It’s about winning in the present. And if the goal is to win in 2026, not picking Faf is not just short-sighted—it’s sabotage.
South Africa has a long history of letting great moments slip. Let’s not add Faf’s final flourish to that list.
Bring him back. One last dance. He’s earned it.
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