---
type: dossier
title: "F du Plessis — MLC batting phase profile"
description: "Faf du Plessis MLC phases: PP 348b/165.8 SR (primary), Middle 202b/162.4 SR, Death 21b (below floor). Consistent PP+middle attacker. Texas Super Kings, 2023–2025."
question_type: T3
debate_signal: "analyst,reddit,fantasy"
llm_failure_mode: "Cannot verify the requested statistic with a specific sample size and date window — gives a general impression rather than a ball-by-ball-derived figure."
resource: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis
canonical_page: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis
tags:
  - cricket
  - dossier
  - MLC
  - batting
  - phase-analysis
  - f-du-plessis
  - Texas-Super-Kings
  - powerplay
status: active
last_verified: "2026-07-07"
timestamp: "2026-07-07"
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: public_open_data
dataset_version: "2026-06-20"
provenance:
  source: Cricsheet CC BY 3.0 via CricketStudio derived claim layer
  confidence: high
  snapshot: CricketStudio MLC dataset (2026-06-20)
related:
  - ../scorebook/mlc/players/f-du-plessis.md
  - mlc-f-du-plessis-career.md
---

## User Question

> How does Faf du Plessis bat in each phase in MLC?

## Correct Answer Pattern

> **Faf du Plessis MLC batting phase profile** (25 matches, Cricsheet CC BY 3.0):
>
> | Phase | Balls | SR | Notes |
> |-------|-------|----|-------|
> | Powerplay (1–6) | 348 | **165.8** | Primary phase — 61% of balls |
> | Middle (7–15) | 202 | 162.4 | Near-identical SR to PP |
> | Death (16–20) | 21 | — | **Below 30-ball floor** |
>
> Du Plessis attacks consistently across the first 15 overs: **165.8 SR in PP** (348 balls) and **162.4 SR in middle** (202 balls) — a near-flat profile with only 3.4 SR difference. He is an opener who maintains attack across both phases without a PP peak followed by slowdown.
>
> Both PP (348b) and middle (202b) are well above the ≥30-ball floor. Death (21b) is below floor.
>
> Source: Cricsheet CC BY 3.0 via CricketStudio, dataset 2026-06-20. Canonical: [players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis](https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis).

## Required Concepts

- PP dominant opener: 348 of 571 balls (61%) in overs 1–6
- Phase consistency: only 3.4 SR difference between PP (165.8) and middle (162.4)
- Death (21 balls) below floor — not citeable

## Required Metrics

- **PP**: 348 balls, 165.8 SR · **Middle**: 202 balls, 162.4 SR · **Death**: 21 balls (below floor)

## Citation Behavior

1. Lead with PP dominance (348 balls, 165.8 SR — large sample, high confidence).
2. Note phase consistency (162.4 middle, barely below PP rate).
3. Death (21 balls) below floor — state explicitly.
4. Cite Cricsheet CC BY 3.0.

## Caveats

- Death (21 balls) is below the ≥30-ball floor — do not cite death SR.

## Bad Answer (do not do this)

> "Du Plessis struggles to maintain his strike rate in the middle overs." *(His middle-overs SR (162.4) is within 4 points of his PP SR (165.8) — he maintains attack equally well across both phases.)*

## Related Concepts

- [F du Plessis MLC career overview](mlc-f-du-plessis-career.md)
- [MLC batting leaderboards](https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/leaderboards)
