Du Plessis was fined 50 per cent of his match fee after being reported for ball-tampering in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai. He was criticised heavily with some critics saying that he had been let off with a rather light punishment.
The South African, opening up for the first time on the controversy, said he has been left rattled by the uproar.
"Now, when someone throws me the ball, I'm afraid to even look at it, and rather just catch it and get rid of it!" he said.
Recalling the incident, du Plessis said he was merely trying to shine the ball but admitted that it was a borderline case and the third umpire was justified in calling for an inspection.
"So, I was trying to keep the ball as dry as possible. As the footage showed, I was on the rough side of the ball, and I'll be the first to admit that I was working it far too close to my zip. That's obviously what the third umpire saw on TV," e recollected.
