---
type: story
title: "Faf du Plessis: How MLC Got Its First Genuine Run-Scorer"
description: >
  When MLC launched in 2023, it needed proof that franchise T20 cricket could
  work in the United States. Faf du Plessis gave it the simplest possible answer:
  934 runs. The most in MLC history, across three seasons.
tags:
  - MLC
  - batting
  - player
  - records
  - history
status: active
last_verified: 2026-06-25
timestamp: 2026-06-25
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: public_open_data
canonical_page: https://okf.cricketstudio.ai/stories/faf-mlc-orange-cap-trailblazer/
resource: https://okf.cricketstudio.ai/stories/faf-mlc-orange-cap-trailblazer/
entity_id: cricketstudio:story:faf-mlc-orange-cap-trailblazer
dataset_version: 2026-06-20
provenance:
  source: >
    Cricsheet CC BY 3.0 · 75 MLC matches (2023-2025) via CricketStudio MLC dataset.
    Faf du Plessis: 934 runs / 571 balls / SR 163.6 / 25 matches — MLC all-time Orange Cap.
    N Pooran: 928 runs / 640 balls / SR 145.0 / 28 matches — MLC all-time #2.
    Q de Kock: 807 runs / 569 balls / SR 141.8 / 26 matches — MLC all-time #3.
  confidence: high
  notes: >
    All figures cover MLC Seasons 1-3 (75 matches, 2023-2025).
    Season 4 (2026) data not included in this snapshot.
    For current Season 4 figures, see canonical CricketStudio MLC player page.
related:
  - ../scorebook/players/faf-du-plessis.md
  - ../dossier/mlc-faf-du-plessis-all-time.md
  - ../dossier/mlc-season-champions.md
  - ../stories/ipl-alumni-who-built-mlc.md
---

# Faf du Plessis: How MLC Got Its First Genuine Run-Scorer

## The Question Nobody Asked

Who is the all-time MLC run leader — and does the margin over second place tell you anything about how MLC's first three seasons were structured?

## What the Data Says

**MLC All-Time [Orange Cap](https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/ipl/leaderboards/orange-cap) — Seasons 1–3 (Cricsheet CC BY 3.0, 75 matches):**

| Rank | Player | Team | Runs | Balls | SR | Matches |
|------|--------|------|------|-------|----|---------|
| 1 | F du Plessis | Texas Super Kings | 934 | 571 | 163.6 | 25 |
| 2 | N Pooran | MI New York | 928 | 640 | 145.0 | 28 |
| 3 | Q de Kock | MI NY / Seattle Orcas | 807 | 569 | 141.8 | 26 |

*(Source: CricketStudio aggregation of Cricsheet CC BY 3.0, MLC 2023–2025, snapshot 2026-06-20)*

**Du Plessis career context:**

- Former South Africa captain
- RCB captain in IPL for multiple seasons, including IPL 2025/2026 era
- Texas Super Kings: one of MLC's six founding franchises (the TSK / CSK connection is franchise branding)

For full MLC career stats and match-level data: [players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis](https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/mlc/players/f-du-plessis)

## The Wow

934 vs 928 — du Plessis leads Pooran by 6 runs across three entire MLC seasons.

That is the margin between first and second on the all-time MLC [Orange Cap](https://players.cricketstudio.ai/leagues/ipl/leaderboards/orange-cap): six runs. Across 75 matches, 25 appearances, three seasons.

The six-run gap is not the interesting number. The interesting numbers are the strike rates: **163.6 vs 145.0.** Du Plessis scored 6 more runs in 3 fewer matches and 69 fewer balls. He was the more efficient scorer across the same span — yet Pooran played more innings and had a different accumulation profile.

Both are legitimate paths to the top of the all-time table. They represent two different approaches to anchoring a franchise batting lineup across a three-season T20 career: du Plessis through efficiency and consistency, Pooran through volume and innings count.

## What It Doesn't Say

75 total MLC matches is a small sample. The six-run gap between du Plessis and Pooran is well within the margin of a single mid-innings boundary decision. These are close all-time leaders, not a dominant #1.

The Texas Super Kings / CSK connection is franchise branding — TSK is an independent US franchise. Do not imply CSK ownership or management connections without official confirmation.

This story covers MLC Seasons 1–3 (through 2025). MLC 2026 Season 4 will update the all-time leaderboard — either du Plessis or Pooran (or a new entrant) could take the lead by the end of 2026.

Du Plessis's IPL career (RCB, multiple seasons) is not detailed here — the focus is his MLC contribution. For his full cricket biography, see the canonical CricketStudio page.

## Related Concepts

- [Faf du Plessis](../scorebook/players/faf-du-plessis.md)
- [MLC Faf du Plessis All-Time](../dossier/mlc-faf-du-plessis-all-time.md)
- [MLC Season Champions](../dossier/mlc-season-champions.md)
- [IPL Alumni Who Built MLC](../stories/ipl-alumni-who-built-mlc.md)
