During the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Faf du Plessis reached out to Steve Smith to offer his support. He questioned why Smith accepted blame for the incident despite not being culpable. Drawing from his own experience with a similar charge in 2016, du Plessis expressed empathy for Smith's situation under intense media criticism. Their mutual respect, evident from past support, solidified a bond that resonated within both teams.source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/you-did-nothing-wrong-faf-du-plessis-reveals-message-to-steve-smith-during-sandpapergate/articleshow/135165907.cms