Zeeshan Ansari announced his IPL arrival in 2025 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, turning heads as a wicket-taking spinner in a season dominated by batsmen. Across ten high-pressure bowling innings, the 23-year-old claimed six crucial scalps, including a memorable three-wicket burst that derailed a strong batting line-up. Operating at an economy nudging 9.84 on the batting-friendly tracks, he bowled 203 balls and conceded 333 runs while maintaining a sharp strike rate of 33.83. His solitary three-wicket haul underlined his ability to break partnerships at vital junctures—an attribute that quickly endeared him to the SRH think-tank. With no five-wicket haul yet, Ansari’s hunger for more match-defining spells is evident, and fantasy managers have already started tagging him as a differential pick for the 2026 season.

Hardik Pandya IPL career story: 11 seasons, 2749 runs at a 146 strike-rate, 148 sixes, 10 half-centuries Hardik Pandya has been one of the Indian Premier League’s most explosive batting all-rounders since his 2015 debut with Mumbai Indians. Across 140 innings he has unleashed 2,749 runs off just 1,871 balls, translating to a fearsome strike-rate of 146—the sort of number that turns middle-overs into match-winning passages. He has cleared the ropes 148 times and found the boundary another 207 times, underlining why captains post straight long-on and deep mid-wicket for him from ball one. His highest score of 91 and ten half-centuries show he can both finish innings and anchor them when required. While Pandya’s primary currency is runs, he has also delivered 78 wickets in 107 bowling innings, including one five-for and five three-wicket bursts. Operating at an economy of 9.18 and a strike-rate of 20.87, he often bowls the difficult overs at the death, trusting his cutters and the slower ball. Having represented Mumbai Indians for eight of his eleven campaigns and captained Gujarat Titans to the 2022 title, Pandya’s dual-skill value has made him a marquee name every mega auction.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.