IPL 8: Du Plessis getting used to the role of 'finisher' for Chennai Super Kings

South African batsman Faf du Plesis says he is getting used to the role of a “finisher” for his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Asked about his new role after their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Wednesday which CSK won by 27 runs, du Plesis said he is still “learning”. Du Plessis scored a quick-fire 33 runs to propel his team to a healthy 181 for eight. CSK were then able to restrict RCB to 154 for eight at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday.

“I am learning. 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,” du Plesis was quoted as saying by iplt20.com on Thursday.

The 30-year-old said he would love to bat high-up the order again but added he would follow the instructions of the team management.

“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,” he said.

The middle-order willower also said he has flexible batting position in the outfit.

“My role is more of gelling the rest of the batting unit together. Last year I batted at number four. 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 stage and hitting is a different skill," he said.

“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 number four and if we have a good opening partnership MS (Dhoni) goes in ahead of me,” he said.

IANS