Mark Wood’s IPL story is short but spectacular. The English speedster has appeared in only two seasons—2018 with Chennai Super Kings and 2023 with Lucknow Super Giants—yet his 2023 blitz still echoes around stadiums. Across five bowling innings Wood claimed 11 wickets, firing out batters at a strike rate of 10.91 balls per wicket. He peaked in match 8, demolishing Delhi Capitals with a five-wicket haul, one of just two five-fors recorded by any bowler that year. Complementing the carnage, he pocketed a three-wicket burst against Royal Challengers Bangalore, showcasing rare consistency in T20’s high-scoring era. Despite bowling on flatter Indian tracks, he kept his economy under nine runs an over, leaking only 179 runs from 120 balls. With the bat Wood is a cameo artist: 12 runs off 8 balls, including a six and a four, and a highest score of 10. Those quick runs underline his all-round value, yet it is the white-ball thunderbolts that define him. Mark Wood’s IPL numbers read five matches, eleven wickets, one five-wicket haul—firepower Lucknow Super Giants will bank on whenever he returns.

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.