Faf du Plessis: “The IPL plays a big part in all of our lives”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has admitted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction could distract the Proteas during the third Test against India in Johannesburg.

The IPL auction will be held on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore, and a number of South African players will be up for grabs, including Du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

Du Plessis admitted that the players in the auction will be curious to know if they were bought and for how much as it is common for certain players to fetch eye-popping prices.

“Well we don’t have our phones, so it’s difficult to check (the auction),” Du Plessis was quoted as saying by CricTracker. “There will be distractions, and that is normal, it’s human.

“The IPL plays a big part in all of our lives. For the management and myself, it’s important to make sure we keep the focus and the energy driving towards the Test match.”

South Africa already hold an unassailable 2-0 series lead going into the third Test, which begins on January 24. Despite this, Du Plessis has called on his side to brush aside all distractions and aim to complete a 3-0 whitewash.

“At the end of the day’s play, if we want to talk about the auction a little bit, we can do that,” he said. “But [we have] to make sure that the next day, when it’s Test match time again, we are switched on and focused.”