South African left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell has quietly built a reputation as one of the IPL’s most consistent death-over operators, and his 2023 return with Royal Challengers Bengaluru underlined why franchises keep calling him back. Across five seasons from 2011 to 2023, Parnell has sent down 723 balls, struck 35 times and conceded only 937 runs—numbers that translate to a tight economy of 7.78 and a strike-rate of 20.66. While his four three-wicket hauls show the ability to break partnerships, the absence of a five-for highlights a career of disciplined containment rather than headline-grabbing bursts. With the bat he is a lower-order cameo merchant: 65 runs in 80 balls, four boundaries and a solitary six, but his highest score of 16 shows his brief stay at the crease is usually spent rotating the strike or finding the fence once before departing. After stints with Pune Warriors and Delhi Capitals, the 2023 RCB chapter saw the 33-year-old prove again that experience and left-arm angle make him an asset on Indian pitches.

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.