Ishant Sharma IPL Journey: 96 Wickets, One Five-for, and 15 Seasons of Pace Mastery Veteran seamer Ishant Sharma has become one of the Indian Premier League’s most enduring pace forces, spanning 15 seasons from the inaugural 2008 edition to the 2025 campaign with Gujarat Titans. Across 117 bowling innings the 6' 4" bowler has sent down 2 419 balls—roughly 403 overs—and conceded 3 377 runs to claim 96 wickets. His strike-rate of 25.20 balls per wicket underlines a knack for breaking partnerships, while three three-wicket hauls and one five-wicket burst showcase his match-turning ability on the biggest stage. Having debuted with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, Ishant’s journey reads like a tour of the league itself: KKR (2008-2010), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2011-2015), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016), Punjab Kings (2017) and seven seasons with Delhi Capitals (2019-2024) before landing at Gujarat Titans for the 2025 season. That 2025 move makes him one of the few players to feature for six different IPL franchises, a testament to his adaptability and enduring value. With the bat, Ishant’s role has always been support—57 runs in 21 innings tells its own story—but his two sixes and four boundaries provide flashes of lower-order fireworks. Yet it is with the ball that the lanky quick has truly delivered, striking every 25th ball and maintaining an economy of 8.38 across diverse conditions and grounds. Whether steaming in for Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla or operating with the new ball for Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Ishant’s height, bounce and subtle variations have kept top-order batters guessing for over a decade and a half.

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.