Ruturaj Dashrat Gaikwad has become Chennai Super Kings’ batting cornerstone across six IPL seasons, stacking up 2,502 runs from 1,820 balls at a brisk strike-rate of 137. In 70 innings he has hammered 231 fours and 95 towering sixes, turning every 7.9 balls into a boundary. Twenty half-centuries and two scintillating hundreds—capped by a personal-best 108—underline his consistency and match-winning appetite. Completely a batting specialist, Gaikwad has bowled zero balls and claimed zero wickets, letting his blade do all the talking. Loyal to the yellow jersey since 2020, the Maharashtra right-hander keeps raising the bar for modern T20 openers.

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.