Abdul Basith IPL 2023 Rajasthan Royals debut story in one run one ball Abdul Basith stepped onto the IPL stage in 2023 wearing the Rajasthan Royals pink and carried a very short but intriguing stat-line: 1 run, 1 ball, 100 strike-rate. The 23-year-old Kerala right-hander walked in during the Royals’ middle order in their final league fixture against Punjab Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Facing his first legal delivery in the tournament, Basith flicked Arshdeep Singh through mid-wicket to collect the solitary run that now sits as his highest score. That single moment gave him the distinction of a perfect strike-rate of 100 – the only Royals batter in 2023 to achieve a 100-plus SR in his sole appearance. Though he did not clear the ropes or find the fence, the composure shown in that single scoring shot underlined why the Royals scouts had tracked him since his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy exploits. Basith’s off-spin remains untested at the IPL level – zero wickets, zero overs – but his primary calling card is still the bat. Royals have retained him for 2024, hinting they view the 1-run cameo as merely the prologue to a bigger narrative. Expect Abdul Basith to push for a regular middle-order slot next season and turn that lone run into a torrent of fours and sixes in Jaipur’s batting-friendly conditions.

Faf du Plessis has become one of the most bankable IPL openers across 13 seasons and four franchises, culminating in his 2025 stint with Delhi Capitals. The South African has stacked up 4,773 runs at a strike rate of 135, carving 439 boundaries and clearing the rope 174 times—numbers that paint the picture of a batsman who keeps the scoreboard in perpetual motion. With 39 half-centuries from 147 innings, he has built consistency into aggression, while his unbeaten 96 remains the tantalising high-water mark just short of a maiden IPL ton. From Chennai Super Kings’ yellow to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s red and now Delhi Capitals’ blue, du Plessis has turned every jersey into a run-making statement, proving that adaptability and class travel well in T20 cricket.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.