Andre Russell IPL 2025: 2,651 runs off just 1,522 balls, 223 sixes at 174 strike-rate – the most feared finisher in the league and still a Knight Rider for life. Across 13 seasons the Jamaican has powered Kolkata Knight Riders with 186 fours and 223 sixes, never once needing a hundred to flip matches. His 12 fifties include a career-best 88, but it is the 174 strike-rate that tells the real story: every ball Russell faces is worth nearly two runs on the card. In 114 innings he has cleared the ropes 223 times, making him the go-to Death-Over nightmare for every opposition analyst. When the ball is tossed to him, the carnage doesn’t stop. Russell has snapped 123 wickets in 121 bowling innings, including one five-for and a dozen three-wicket bursts. Bowling at 14.68 balls per wicket and an economy north of nine, he trades thrift for impact—exactly what KKR have banked on since 2014. From Delhi in 2012-13 to an unbroken purple-and-gold run since, the all-rounder has become the heartbeat of Eden Gardens.

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.