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.

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.