Gaming
Faf Du Plessis Talks About South African Cricket
Faf du Plessis recently became the first batsman to strike the maiden century in South Africa’s T20 league SA20. In an interview, the skipper talked about the importance of SA20 in South African cricket and how it will change the face of cricket for the SA team. He also discussed the talented players on the team and how they will influence the upcoming South African players.
Starting the conversation with the importance of the ongoing SA T20 tournament and how it can be among the top T20 tournaments globally, Faf du Plessis explained how everyone has been waiting for it for quite some time. He said despite having T20 matches before in South Africa, they were waiting to ‘take it to a new level.’ He explained how now the world can see “more of South Africa.”
The skipper also discussed how the tournament brings together overseas talent and how it will benefit SA cricket.
The Joburg Super Kings captain explained how franchise competitions hold importance in today’s cricket. He said such competitions allow younger players to play against some of the best talents globally, ultimately fast-tracking their learning; making the national team strong.
Being the oldest skipper leading a team in the current SA20, Faf du Plessis is excited about his role. When asked whether he still feels excited about such competition, he said, “yeah, that’s why I am still playing. I’m still enjoying it as much as when I was playing for South Africa, even as much as when I started playing the game. That’s the most important thing. While I still feel that level of enjoyment, I think I can keep it going as long as I want to.”
The skipper also explained how the T20 competitions help the national team to improve and give rise to healthy competition. He said these competitions are a great learning opportunity for white-ball cricketers.
When asked about the key factor in winning the T20s, Faf du Plessis said the game’s tactical side and team formation are prominent. He further said one must understand the conditions on a ‘game-to-game basis’ during franchise competitions, like considering the opposition and structuring the team to win.
The SA batter also plays for IPL (Indian Premier League) and is captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Sharing insights on his being a major part of IPL’s CSK team for eleven years, Faf du Plessis said SA20 will allow the players to “come to my part of the world and it will be great to link up with them.”
The skipper picked West Indies bowler Alzarri Joseph as the ‘most excited to work with’ on the Joburg Super Kings team. He said, “He (Alzarri Joseph) has got some real raw pace. I am really excited to see what he can do on South African pitches.” The skipper also explained his disappointment in losing Harry Brook, but he is sure the Joburg Super Kings’ talent can cover the loss.
When asked to pick one cricketer from a SA20 opponent team, Faf du Plessis picked Rashid Khan for his experience and ‘leg-spin.’
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
