Faf finds ‘finishing’ tougher than expected

India

South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis says batting in the lower middle order for Chennai in the IPL is taking some getting used to, but he's happy to do what the coach and captain require of him.

Du Plessis bats at three or four for the Proteas, but for the Super Kings has been coming in much lower down, sometimes behind MS Dhoni. He's having to learn how to be a 'finisher', a role he's not done for his national side.

Du Plessis told iplt20.com: "My role is more of gelling the rest of the batting unit together. We have so many power-hitters and I am not necessarily one of them.

"I am a power-hitter when I am opening the batting but coming in at the latter stages and hitting is a different skill. I am not used to it but I am learning.

"My batting position is flexible in the team. If we lose wickets upfront, I go in at No. 4 and if we have a good opening partnership MS goes in ahead of me."

He did concede that he'd not be averse to moving back up the order, but was happy to have the chance to learn a new skill:  "It is a new thing for me and something that I want to improve on.

"My whole life I have batted higher up the order and it is good for my game that I have been given an opportunity to learn how to finish games.

"I wouldn't mind going back up the order. But we have such an explosive opening pair now and they are doing a great job. I'll just do whatever the captain and the coach tell me to do, but opening the batting is nice."

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