The Delhi Capitals on Monday named former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as vice captain of the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025.
Thursday’s washout in Hyderabad meant that Sunrisers Hyderabad joined Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals as the three confirmed teams for the playoffs and the race is now for only one spot with two teams in fray -- CSK and RCB.
With mere 13 league stage games to go in this year’s Indian Premier League, no team is officially eliminated from the race to the playoffs but having said that, the next couple of days could be crucial for a few teams, especially the ones at the bottom-half of the IPL 2024 points table.
It was only three days back when the Punjab Kings outclassed CSK by seven wickets at Chepauk, considered their fortress.
The recent struggles of Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, have given a glimmer of hope to the teams at the bottom of the IPL points tally, and thus both RCB and GT will be aware of the importance of the upcoming tie.
The fourth Test will be played at Johannesburg from January 24.
However, 35-year-old AB de Villiers admitted that he should be realistic about his expectations and goals of making an international comeback.
The du Plessis-led South Africa registered a 107-run victory in the first Test in Pretoria, which also ended their run of five successive Test defeats.
On the victory, the Proteas captain hoped it was the start of a new chapter after off-field issues threatened to put their cricket on the back burner.
South Africa produced a disciplined bowling performance, making scoring difficult on a pitch which always offered something to the bowlers with some sideways movement and uneven bounce.
