No IPL, no problem! Faf du Plessis starts MLC 2026 with breathtaking 113* for Super Kings

He’s 41-year-old but still no signs of ring rust. Phew! That was some knock from Faf du Plessis, who guided his beloved Super Kings franchise (Texas Super Kings) to an improbable win over Seattle Orcas in the opening match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. Du Plessis isn’t part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) anymore. He doesn’t play the best of the bowlers in day-to-day life. Yet, he showed that he’s the final boss when it comes to MLC!

Faf du Plessis turned back the clock with an unbeaten 113 off just 52 balls as Texas Super Kings chased down a daunting 221-run target with nine balls to spare. The main part is that he made it look so damn easy.

Tim Seifert’s century stolen by Faf’s masterclass

For most teams, conceding 220 would mean the game is all but over. Seattle Orcas certainly thought they had done enough. Tim Seifert smashed a brilliant 104, while Shayan Jahangir chipped in with 78 as the Orcas piled up 220/2. Texas Super Kings had no idea on how to bowl to Seattle, who had an opening partnership of 191 runs.

But Faf had other plans. The Texas Super Kings captain lost opening partner Saiteja Mukkamulla in the very first over. But the ruthless assault continued. Alongside fellow South African Rilee Rossouw, du Plessis launched a counterattack that put the pressure back on Seattle.

The Super Kings raced past fifty in just 3.1 overs. By the end of the Powerplay, they were already 89 and operating well ahead of the asking rate.

Rossouw fell agonisingly short of a half-century after making 49 off only 21 deliveries, but du Plessis never allowed the momentum to dip. He brought up his fifty off just 24 balls and continued to target every bowler who dared miss their mark. When Seattle briefly sensed an opening in the middle overs, du Plessis slammed three sixes in an over against Ottneil Baartman to completely shut the door.

His century arrived in just 45 deliveries, one of the fastest hundreds in MLC history, and by then the result was effectively decided.

The undisputed king of MLC

The innings was superb if you are just a cricket fan. Du Plessis has basically been a masterful opener across T20 leagues. However, at MLC, he’s just a class apart. The US water perhaps suits him. With this knock, he became the first player in tournament history to complete 1,000 MLC runs.

Across four seasons, du Plessis has now scored 1,001 runs at an average of nearly 59 and a strike rate of 175. He also has four centuries, easily more than any other batter in the league.

While players like Finn Allen, Nicholas Pooran and Matthew Short are still younger than Du Plessis, they are not even close of the Protea legend. Perhaps that is what makes this innings special.

Du Plessis no longer has an IPL contract. For IPL 2026, he pulled out of the auction and chose to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The spotlight isn’t on him every week anymore. Yet, he still has the juice in him to make his team chase down a 220-run total almost single-handedly.

The lad was literally doing a role of a pundit at the IPL 2026. His last major competitive outing came at the SA20 2026, where he played just five innings.

Highest run-scorers in MLC history

The post No IPL, no problem! Faf du Plessis starts MLC 2026 with breathtaking 113* for Super Kings appeared first on Inside Sport India.