Nostalgia Cam: Du Preez's Dream Debut

The prelude to a story is often lost on the fast-paced glory of T20s. The highest bid or the rags to riches get their fair share of attention. Interviewers weigh in on them, broadcasters shower love but often we miss to acknowledge the ones that have the potential to script a beautiful (a bit comical too) tale, provided we connect it with what followed.

Dillon du Preez did not fit the bill for the auction in 2009, but right before the IPL was to start, RCB coach Ray Jennings rang him up to report on 10^th April. On a usual day, he would have jumped off the bed, boarded the first flight to India. But the news soon spiralled into a dichotomy. The man was supposed to get married on 10^th of April. He suggested reporting a day later. Pat came the reply from Jennings that there were enough wedding destinations in India.

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Du Preez did not want to take a chance so he advanced the wedding date to 20^th March, only to learn much later that the tournament got postponed by a couple of weeks. Not just postponed, it also was shifting to his country – South Africa.

Cut to 2^nd May 2009, he was informed next day was going to be the debut against Mumbai Indians

Once again, the prelude was not a giveaway as to what was in the store the next day.

By his own admission, du Preez could not sleep that night. Next day on his 3^rd delivery of the IPL, he dismissed one of the greatest cricketers ever – Sachin Tendulkar. The Protea was not going to let the fire extinguish with just a wicket, he scalped two more making it a dream debut.

But as he revealed in the interview to Cricbuzz, his wife is still pissed with him.