Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has heaped praise on Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis after he played a gutsy knock of 44 runs off 40 balls against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday.

The batters found it difficult to get going on the Lucknow pitch but du Plessis played a vital knock. He added a crucial alliance of 62 runs with Virat Kohli, who also scored 31 runs from 30 balls.

It was a crucial opening alliance for RCB as batting was a difficult task on a slowish pitch. In fact, Faf has been in amazing form in the ongoing IPL 2023 as he has amassed 466 runs in nine matches at an average of 58.25 and a strike rate of 159.59 and he is currently the leading run-getter of the tournament.

Faf has led from the front and has played an instrumental role in giving solid starts at the top of the order to RCB.

Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports, “Faf du Plessis applies himself well after gauging the pitch. When the going gets tough, he rises to the occasion. He has done it in the past as well for CSK. When the pitch is tricky, he holds the fort and that’s exactly what he’s doing this year for RCB.”

At the post-match presentation ceremony, Du Plessis shed light on the importance of having a good opening alliance.

“Opposite, complete opposites (the pitch here vs Chinnaswamy). We played really well in the first six overs. That’s when you can play the same way. To have a fifty partnership in the six overs was match-changing. Batting first was important.”

RCB has won five out of the nine matches they have played and they will be looking to carry the good show in the upcoming matches.

RCB will next take on Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday.