South African opener Matthew Breetzke made his IPL debut with Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 season, injecting fearless intent into the top order during his sole visit to the crease. Facing 12 balls, the 25-year-old raced to 14 runs at a brisk strike rate of 116, showing immediate comfort against both spin and pace. In that short stay he split the off-side rope with a crisp four and cleared the long-on fence with a calculated six, hinting at the boundary-clearing power that has marked his domestic T20 career. Although the knock ended at 14, it remains his highest score in the tournament’s history—so far. With zero half-centuries and no hundreds recorded yet, the numbers tell the story of a talent still waiting for the long-format IPL innings that his talent promises. Bowling-wise, Breetzke has not been called upon, so every metric—wickets, economy, strike rate—reads a clean slate, reinforcing his primary identity as a frontline batter. Entering the Lucknow Super Giants set-up for the 2025 campaign, the right-hander brings the reputation of a 130-plus strike-rate basher from South Africa’s SA20, ready to translate domestic fireworks into IPL glory. Fantasy managers and fans alike will watch closely when the 2026 mega-auction rolls around, eager to see if Breetzke can turn one promising cameo into a season-long run feast.

Ajinkya Rahane IPL journey spans 17 seasons, 183 innings and a mountain of 5,032 runs that have come off 4,025 balls at a brisk strike-rate of 125. The Mumbai-born right-hander has punished bowlers for 514 fours and 123 sixes, crossing fifty 33 times and reaching three figures on two memorable occasions, the highest being an unbeaten 105. After stints with Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, he is back with Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025. While Rahane has rolled his arm over only once in the league, picking up a solitary wicket in a six-ball cameo that cost five runs, he remains celebrated as one of the league’s most technically sound and consistent top-order batsmen.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.