Yash Thakur IPL 2025: 25 wickets, 5-wicket haul, 17.72 strike-rate – Punjab Kings’ new-ball weapon Punjab Kings struck gold ahead of IPL 2025 by securing the services of right-arm speedster Yash Thakur, a three-season veteran already boasting the rare combination of a five-wicket haul and a sub-18 strike-rate. Across 21 bowling innings split between Lucknow Super Giants (2023-24) and now Punjab Kings, the 26-year-old has snapped 25 wickets while sending down 443 high-pressure deliveries. His 17.72 balls-per-wicket strike-rate sits among the quickest for any Indian seamer with 20-plus IPL wickets, while two three-wicket bursts and a solitary five-for underline his gift for breaking open games. Thakur’s most devastating spell came in the 2024 season when he tormented an opposition top-order with 5/30—figures that remain the joint-best by a LSG bowler in the tournament’s history. Despite bowling mostly in the powerplay and at the death, he has kept his economy within striking distance of 10.5 runs per over, illustrating both courage and control on batting-friendly tracks. Having already changed jerseys once—from Lucknow’s green to Punjab’s red—the Madhya Pradesh-born quick will look to add fresh chapters to his wicket tally in 2025, spearheading PBKS’s quest for a maiden IPL title.

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.