Faf du Plessis is a South African cricketer and former captain of the South Africa national cricket team, known for being an exceptional fielder and a highly successful limited-overs batsman. Faf du Plessis is not playing IPL 2026 because he has decided not to enter the IPL auction this year after 14 seasons in the league. Instead, he has chosen to take on a new challenge by playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the 2026 season.
Reason of not playing in IPL 2026?
Faf du Plessis is not playing in IPL 2026 because he has decided to withdraw from the IPL 2026 auction. Du Plessis expressed gratitude for his long IPL career but is excited about the opportunity to grow as a player in a new league filled with talent and energy.
Faf du Plessis has indicated in an interview that Delhi Capitals will be his last team to play for in the Indian Premier League (IPL). At age 40, after moving from Royal Challengers Bangalore to Delhi Capitals in the 2025 IPL season, he referred to this stint as the “last chapter of the book” for his IPL career, implying he plans to retire from IPL after playing with Delhi Capitals.
Overall, Faf du Plessis seems to have expressed a clear intention that Delhi Capitals will be his final IPL franchise before retiring from the tournament.
Why Faf du Plessis choose PSL over IPL?
Faf du Plessis chose to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over the Indian Premier League (IPL) mainly because the PSL’s schedule aligned better with his physical management and commitments at this stage of his career. He expressed gratitude for his IPL career and said it was not a farewell to India but a decision to take on a new challenge in the PSL, which he enjoys and where the timing suits him better. Du Plessis also mentioned wanting to explore a new challenge, experience a new environment, and engage with a league full of talent, contributing to his decision to prioritize the PSL this season.
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He expressed gratitude for his time in the IPL and looks forward to the new experience and opportunities in Pakistan’s top T20 league.
