Varun Chakravarthy has become the mystery spinner Kolkata Knight Riders refuse to release. Across seven IPL seasons—six with KKR and his 2019 debut with Punjab Kings—the Tamil Nadu leg-spinner has pocketed 100 wickets in just 83 bowling innings. His economy rate of 7.58 runs per over is built on 1,888 balls of relentless pressure, and every 18.88 balls he strikes again. The 31-year-old has turned games on their heads eight times with three-wicket bursts and once produced a magical 5-wicket haul that still echoes in IPL folklore. While his batting card shows only 26 runs from 47 balls, those numbers underline a man hired to bamboozle, not belt. With KKR retaining him from 2020 through the 2025 auction, Varun Chakravarthy remains the Purple spin king Eden Gardens trusts to defend totals and shatter chase scripts.

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.