Faf du Plesis represented South Africa's national cricket team across all three formats - Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He served as the captain of South Africa's Test and ODI teams from 2016 to 2020. His cricketing journey began in Pretoria, where he played youth cricket for Northerns. He made his first-class debut for Northerns in 2003 at the age of 19. Du Plessis showcased his talent early, scoring a century on his first-class debut against Western Province.

In 2007, du Plessis joined the Titans franchise, a move that proved pivotal for his career. He continued his impressive performances, accumulating runs across formats, leading to his international debut in 2011. He made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia in November 2012.

In ODIs, du Plessis first represented South Africa in January 2011 against India. He quickly established himself as a dependable middle-order batsman, known for his ability to rotate the strike and construct innings.

Du Plessis's T20I debut came in October 2012 against India.

A standout moment in du Plessis's career came in 2013 when he played a marathon innings of 134 off 234 balls against India in a Test match. His resilience and determination helped South Africa secure a draw from a seemingly hopeless position.

In 2016, du Plessis took over the captaincy of the South African Test team following the retirement of AB de Villiers. He led the team with distinction, guiding them to victories against Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan. His  leadership extended to the ODI format in 2017 when he replaced de Villiers as the captain. Under his captaincy, South Africa achieved notable series wins against Australia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

A significant highlight of du Plessis's captaincy tenure was South Africa's home Test series victory against India in 2018. It marked the first time South Africa had beaten India in a home Test series.

In 2020, du Plessis stepped down from the captaincy roles across all formats, paving the way for a new generation of leaders.

He announced his retirement from Test cricket in February 2022, marking the end of an illustrious career in whites. However, he continued to represent South Africa in ODIs and T20Is until the end of the 2022 calendar year.

In his final international appearance for South Africa, du Plessis played a crucial role in guiding the team to victory in the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Du Plessis's career statistics reflect his consistency and longevity at the highest level. In Tests, he amassed over 4,000 runs, including 10 centuries. In ODIs, he scored over 5,500 runs, with 12 centuries to his name. In T20Is, he accumulated over 1,500 runs, showcasing his versatility across formats.

After his retirement, du Plessis transitioned into various roles within the cricketing ecosystem, including commentary, coaching, and mentorship roles.