Joe Root IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals’ English maestro in brief numbers England Test captain Joe Root made his long-awaited Indian Premier League debut in 2023 with Rajasthan Royals, but the fairytale stayed brief. In his solitary outing at the crease, Root faced 15 balls for 10 runs, striking one boundary and finishing unbeaten on 10. With no sixes, fifties or centuries in that lone innings, his strike-rate settled at 66—a rare single-digit story for a batter of his calibre. Tasked to roll his off-breaks for the first time in IPL colours, Root bowled two economical overs, conceding 14 runs off 12 balls at an economy of 7.0. Though he failed to claim a wicket, his tidy spell kept the scoring in check and hinted at the all-round value Royals had banked on. Across the 2023 campaign, Root featured in just one match, making the numbers read like a postcard rather than a chapter: 10 runs, 1 four, 0 sixes, 0 wickets, but a memorable Royals debut all the same.

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.