Faf du Plessis‘ return to the Super Kings franchise did not go as planned as he was out for a golden duck in the first-ever game of the Major League Cricket, which coincided with his birthday.

Du Plessis, who previously played for the Indian Premier League’s Chennai Super Kings, currently captains the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament. The South African played for CSK for nine years, first from 2011 to 2015 and then from 2018 to 2021. He expressed his delight at being picked for Texas, owned by the CSK franchise, in a press conference ahead of the MLC.

His reunion with the franchise did not go as planned, as he was dismissed in the second over of the innings off the first ball he faced, against the Los Angeles Knight Riders. Lockie Ferguson bowled the ball outside off stump and du Plessis attempted to drive but only managed to send it to short extra cover, where Unmukt Chand took an easy catch.

Du Plessis, who celebrated his 39th birthday on July 13, may not have had much to celebrate with the bat, but he walked away a happy man after the game as his team defeated LAKR by 69 runs.

Watch du Plessis’ dismissal here:

first ball duck for Faf du Plessis! tough way to start a new league and season. (on his birthday too!) pic.twitter.com/Crlz6cWpsI

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 14, 2023

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