Texas Super Kings were chasing 221 against Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium on June 18 when Faf du Plessis settled the argument about whether a 41-year-old had any business opening a T20 chase. He finished with 113 not out off 52 balls, TSK got home with 9 balls to spare, and du Plessis became the oldest centurion in men’s T20 history. It was a record-breaking night, and the question it left behind is worth taking seriously.
The 113 That Made History
Seattle Orcas had posted 220 for 2, built on Tim Seifert’s 104 off 66 balls and Shayan Jahangir’s 78. Both innings were rendered secondary inside 15 overs. Du Plessis dismantled the target with an unbeaten 113 off 52 balls, sharing a 95-run stand off just 37 balls with Rilee Rossouw before Wiaan Mulder finished it off.
Du Plessis reached his century off 45 balls and never looked like being dismissed. At 41 years and 340 days old on the night, he surpassed Paul Collingwood’s nine-year-old record for the oldest centurion in men’s T20 cricket, set at 41 years and 65 days in 2017. It was his fourth MLC century and made him the first batter to cross 1,000 career runs in the league.
Faf du Plessis MLC 2026 Century Record
The record sits in context alongside other age-defying performances the league has produced since 2023.
Player | Age | Tournament | Performance | Note |
Faf du Plessis | 41y 340d | MLC 2026 | 113* off 52 balls | Oldest men’s T20 centurion ever |
Kieron Pollard | 38 | MLC 2025 | 70* off 39 vs TSK, SR 186 | Retired from IPL |
Andre Russell | 38 | MLC 2024-26 | Death-overs enforcer, 107m six | Retired from IPL |
R Ashwin | 39 | MLC 2026 | SF Unicorns debut | First Indian-capped MLC player |
Du Plessis was born on July 13, 1984, retired from Test cricket in 2021, and has never formally retired from white-ball cricket. He skipped the IPL 2026 auction entirely, prioritising the PSL and MLC instead.
Who Else Is Choosing MLC Over Other Leagues
Du Plessis is not an outlier. Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell have both walked away from the IPL yet remain high-impact picks in MLC. Pollard hit an unbeaten 70 off 39 balls against TSK in MLC 2025 while striking above 180 across the campaign for MI New York. Russell continues to bat and bowl as LAKR’s enforcer at 38, still capable of launching sixes past 100 metres.
Sunil Narine retired internationally in November 2023 and has anchored LAKR’s top order since 2024. The headline arrival for 2026 is R Ashwin, who retired internationally in December 2024 and from the IPL in August 2025, now signed with San Francisco Unicorns as the first Indian-capped player to feature in MLC. Four veterans from four different countries, all arriving at the same destination.
Why The US Has Become Its Stage
The pull isn’t sentiment, it’s scheduling. MLC’s three-to-four-week June-July window sits entirely outside the IPL calendar, removing any conflict and leaving veterans without the year-round fitness demands younger players absorb across the BBL, CPL, and IPL combined. Six franchises, several backed by IPL ownership groups, can offer competitive contracts without a ten-month playing commitment.
Du Plessis skipping the IPL 2026 auction while staying active in the PSL and MLC signals how the calculus is shifting for veterans in the back third of their careers. The US market offers reach, money, and a window that doesn’t cost them the rest of the year.
What This Means For MLC’s Standing
MLC has produced two different champions in MI New York, who won in 2023 and 2025, and Washington Freedom, who won in 2024. The league has issued a broadcast production RFP covering 2026 to 2028, aiming to build a product differentiated within global T20 cricket. American Cricket Enterprises’ investment is estimated at $150 million, a significant wager on cracking the US sports market.
When a 41-year-old great breaks an age record here, and the supporting cast includes Russell, Narine, and Ashwin, the bet is visibly paying off. The Faf du Plessis MLC 2026 century didn’t just produce the best innings of the tournament’s opening week. It produced a case study in what happens when a league gets the conditions right for the players who know exactly what they’re doing.
Is Faf’s 113 the greatest innings in MLC history? Drop your verdict in the comments.
FAQs
How old is Faf du Plessis, and what record did he break?
Faf du Plessis was 41 years and 340 days old when he scored his MLC 2026 century, making him the oldest centurion in men’s T20 history. He surpassed Paul Collingwood’s record of 41 years and 65 days, set in 2017.
Has Faf du Plessis retired from cricket?
Du Plessis retired from Test cricket in 2021 but has never formally retired from white-ball cricket and continues to play at the highest level in franchise leagues. He skipped the IPL 2026 auction to focus on the PSL and MLC, where he now holds the record for most career runs in the league.
Is Andre Russell still playing franchise cricket in 2026?
Russell has retired from the IPL but continues to play for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in MLC 2026, where he remains one of the most destructive hitters in the competition. He operates as an enforcer in the death overs and has hit sixes of over 100 metres in the league.
Has Ravichandran Ashwin played in MLC before?
MLC 2026 is Ashwin’s first appearance in the league, making him the first Indian-capped player to feature in MLC. He retired internationally in December 2024 and from the IPL in August 2025 before signing with San Francisco Unicorns.