Faf du Plessis comments on Team India's heartbreaking finish to 2023 World Cup

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis stated that Indian players must be heartbroken after their defeat to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final and he also said it to breaking up with a girlfriend. While Team India dominated the entire group stage by winning all nine games and defeated New Zealand in the semi-final, they lost to now-six-time World Champions Australia in the final as well.

After putting up a below-par 240, Team India reduced the Aussies in trouble to 47/3. But a 192-run partnership between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschangne helped Australia win the title. Australia won by six wickets with seven overs to spare as well. While speaking with NDTV, Faf du Plessis shared how overcoming a painful defeat in a World Cup is a challenge, similar to what they experienced in 2015.

“That is a big challenge,” Faf du Plessis said. “I remember going through a similar experience as a cricketer when we went through the highs and lows of the 2015 World Cup. The heartache that you have to deal with takes a bit of time and it is a bit like breaking up with a girlfriend. You cannot just get over it straight away.”

See also: IND vs AUS: Ruturaj Gaikwad credits MS Dhoni for his amazing game sense

Faf du Plessis also felt that Team India playing as well as they reached the final will only make it harder for them to recover as well.

“India were so amazing in the way they played in this World Cup,” the veteran further added. “They were unbelievable the way they went about their business. They will be feeling in a similar way and they will be heartbroken. That was their World Cup to win.”That will take a bit of time and time heals everything. Your first series back feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. Obviously there are so quality players there and some experience players who I am sure will help manage the young guys well.”

See also: Irfan Pathan wants to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India’s T20 World Cup squad

On the other hand, Team India took on Australia in a T20I series at home four days after the World Cup final and registered a 4-1 victory. While both teams had a series of key players rested, India showed their bench strength with bat and ball and dominated thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis recently shared the possibility of him returning to the South African T20I side for next year’s World Cup in the West Indies and U.S.A. as well. He last played for the Proteas in the Test series against Pakistan in 2021 as well. His last T20I game came even before against England in December 2020 as well.

On the sidelines of the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, Faf du Plessis said: “I believe that I can return to international cricket as well. We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It’s just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It’s certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach.”