Sandeep Sharma IPL 2025: Swing master headlines Rajasthan Royals attack with 146 wickets across 13 seasons Since his debut in 2013, Sandeep Sharma has quietly built one of the most consistent new-ball résumés in IPL history. Operating for Rajasthan Royals since 2023 (after earlier stints with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad), the right-arm seamer has sent down 3,041 deliveries and walked away with 146 wickets—an impressive strike rate of 20.83 balls per wicket. His economy sits at a tight 8.03 runs per over, rare restraint in the slam-bang format. Eleven three-wicket hauls and a solitary five-for underline his ability to break open an innings, while his best figures of 5/25 remain a testament to his knack for late-swing devastation. Sandeep’s longevity—13 campaigns and counting—makes him one of only a handful of bowlers to appear in every IPL season since 2013, and the only one to spend five-plus seasons each with both Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad before anchoring the Royals attack.

Azhar Mahmood, the seasoned Pakistan all-rounder, lit up three IPL seasons between 2012 and 2015 for Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders, delivering exactly the kind of late-order fireworks and disciplined seam that wins tight matches. Batting at a strike-rate of 128, Mahmood hammered 388 runs off 303 balls, including 39 fours and 13 sixes. His two half-centuries peaked at an 80-run blitzkrieg that showcased his ability to clear the rope when it mattered most. Yet it is with the ball that Mahmood truly tilted games. Across 23 bowling innings he snapped 29 wickets at a brisk strike-rate of 18.52 balls per scalp and kept pressure on with an economy of 7.82. Four three-wicket bursts underline his knack for breaking partnerships, even if a five-for eluded him. In 537 deliveries he conceded only 700 runs, numbers that reflect both control and penetration on Indian pitches. From 2012 to 2015, whether in Punjab red or KKR purple, Azhar Mahmood offered captains the rare luxury of a proven finisher who could also close an innings with the ball—exactly the dual threat modern T20 franchises crave.

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