Even before establishing himself as a regular for South Africa, Faf had earned trust within the CSK dug-out. Despite not always being a consistent starter due to the plethora of match-winners in the overseas category, his reliability in times of crisis was acknowledged. The 2018 season stands out as an example when he rescued the team in the Qualifier-1 with a composed innings, guiding them to the final.

Du Plessis then became a crucial element in CSK’s strategies, contributing significantly to their 2021 title triumph. Following his release by the franchise before the 2022 auctions, he was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who promptly appointed him as their captain. Under his leadership, the team secured a playoff finish, and he was retained as captain for the subsequent season.