Kwena Maphaka IPL profile: South Africa’s teenage left-arm quick has already turned heads in two short seasons, splitting his campaigns between Mumbai Indians in 2024 and Rajasthan Royals in 2025. With only four bowling innings on record, the 19-year-old has struck twice, showing a wicket every 33 balls and an eye-catching top haul of 1-31. While his economy of 13 runs per over is a work in progress, the raw wicket-taking knack is unmistakable. Maphaka has been sparingly used, sending down 66 balls and conceding 143 runs, yet the promise lies in those two scalps and the electric energy he brings to the powerplay. In the solitary time he was asked to bat, he wasted no time—smashing 2 fours in 2 balls to race to 8* at a jaw-dropping strike-rate of 400. No fifties, no hundreds, but the statement was clear: when the helmet goes on, the intent follows. Across two seasons, Maphaka’s numbers remain modest, yet every digit hints at a fast-tracked future—two IPL franchises in two years, two wickets, two boundaries, and a strike-rate story waiting to explode.

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.