KS Rathore IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals' mystery man who faced just five balls in his debut season. The 22-year-old wicket-keeper batter from Jaipur walked in against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 23 March 2025, blocked four balls and left the fifth one alone, yet the buzz around the right-hander refuses to die. Drafted for his 800-plus runs in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike-rate of 172, Rathore’s IPL ledger currently shows 0 runs off 5 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes and an unbeaten highest score of 0*. Those zeros, however, tell only half the story. Behind the numbers is a fearless top-order dasher who hammered 14 sixes in the domestic T20 season and smashed four 50-plus scores while opening for Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has already earmarked Rathore as a “finisher-explosive” for the 2026 mega-auction, hinting that the youngster will be groomed as Jos Buttler’s long-term opening partner. Rathore’s glovework adds another layer of intrigue; he pouched 17 dismissals in the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the most by any keeper in the competition. With Royals set to play seven home games at the batting-friendly Sawai Mansingh Stadium next year, fantasy managers and data scouts alike are circling 27 March 2026 – Rathore’s probable first home appearance – as the day the “zero” story finally flips into a whirlwind of boundaries.

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.