Marco Jansen has turned himself into one of the IPL’s most bankable pace enforcers after five seasons with four different franchises, finally anchoring the Punjab Kings attack in 2025. The 6'8" South African left-armer has already snapped 36 wickets from 35 bowling innings, striking every 20.36 balls—the sort of rapid-fire impact that turns middle overs into minefields. Twice he has run through a line-up to claim three-wicket hauls, and although a maiden five-for still eludes him, an economy of 9.41 on the high-scoring tracks of Hyderabad and Mohali shows he is willing to trade thrift for wickets without flinching. Jansen’s height extracts disconcerting bounce, and he has bowled 733 deliveries for 1,149 runs—numbers that tell the story of a bowler who attacks the stumps rather than just containing. With the bat he remains a handy lower-order striker; 141 runs off 129 balls, including eight fours and six sixes, underline the late-innings muscle he can provide. His highest score of 34 came during a cameo that swung momentum, and a strike rate of 109 keeps scoreboard pressure alive when he walks in. Having started with Mumbai Indians in 2021 and then spending three productive years at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Jansen has now become the spearhead for Punjab Kings. The trajectory is clear—each season he has been entrusted with more overs at the death, and each season the wickets have followed. At 25, the lanky left-arm quick is already on course to become one of the league’s premier pace exponents, and the 2025 campaign could be the stage where he leapfrogs from impact bowler to genuine match-winner.

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.