Xavier Bartlett burst onto the IPL stage in the 2025 season with Punjab Kings, immediately stamping himself as a pace bowler to watch. Over four bowling innings the 24-year-old Queenslander sent down ten tight overs, claiming two key wickets at a brisk strike-rate of 30.00. While his economy of 9.6 runs per over shows room for tighter lines, Bartlett’s ability to break partnerships when it matters is clear—he has already produced one one-wicket burst that shifted momentum in PBKS’ favour. With the bat Bartlett showed flashes of lower-order hitting, remaining unbeaten on 11 off 15 balls in his only appearance, striking at 73 and finding the boundary once. Though modest, those runs underlined his value as a genuine all-round option. Fresh off a breakout Big Bash campaign, Bartlett’s first IPL stint has set the stage for bigger returns. Expect the right-arm quick to add to those two scalps and become a core cog in Punjab Kings’ 2025 title push.

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.