Tilak Varma has quietly grown into one of IPL’s most explosive young batters, stacking 1,499 runs in just four seasons with Mumbai Indians. Opening or floating in the middle order, the left-hander has faced 1,038 balls and smashed them at a scorching strike-rate of 144. Translation: every seven balls fetch at least one boundary, be it one of his 113 fours or 74 sixes. His fifty-plus scores already read eight, with a best of 84 not out, showing he can anchor or accelerate at will. More importantly, all the damage has come in only 51 innings; that is nearly 30 runs per knock and a boundary every other over. The numbers underline why MI have kept the Hyderabad prodigy in their core since 2022. While he has rolled his arm over occasionally—22 balls, 28 runs, no wickets—the story is overwhelmingly about the willow. In an era where 140-plus strike-rates define match-winners, Varma’s 144 slots him among the league’s elite finishers. Expect the tally of 1499 to race past 2,000 as he enters his prime seasons at the Wankhede cauldron.

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.