With the IPL season just past the halfway mark it is still hard to tell which teams will make the knockout stages as there is a big cluster at the top of the table. CSK are struggling badly as are Sunrisers Hyderabad.
But in terms of individual performances, and particularly the South African players, how are they going?
Let’s take a moment to review the performances of the South African players in action with a kind of mid-term report card.
We’ll break the players into three groups – top of the class, about average and must try harder.
Top of the class
Tristan Stubbs – The Delhi Capitals man is being used as a finisher, and he is thriving.
Although he has yet to score a big one, he is still averaging 61 runs per innings, based largely on the fact that he hasn’t been out much.
His highest score is 38* and he has amassed 183 runs over the course of tournament.
The Capitals, who are currently second on the table, have a great top order, which means Stubbs usually comes to the crease with a platform to launch from, but he has been versatile all tournament, adapting to whatever the team needs.
Aiden Markram
Part of a Lucknow Super Giants top three that also features Nicholas Pooran and Mitch Marsh, Markram had a slow start to the tournament, but he has improved with every passing knock, and he is now the ninth highest scorer for the season with 274 runs and a highest score of 66.
He has chipped in with a few handy wickets as well and played a key role in helping LSG towards the summit of the table.
Marco Jansen
The Punjab Kings man appeared to be viewed as a bowler when the tournament started but after eight games, he has placed himself very firmly into the all-rounder category with a series of excellent performances.
To date Jansen has taken eight wickets at an average of 31 and scored 68 runs at an average of 34. PBKS have been inconsistent with their batting, but Jansen has been an excellent lower order saviour, frequently adding ballast to touch and go scores.
About average
Ryan Rickelton
Mumbai Indians had a slow start to the season but they are gradually finding form. Batting at the top of the order for the side from Wankhede Stadium, Rickelton has been solid, albeit unspectacular.
As opening partner to Rohit Sharma, he has been under some pressure given the former Indian skipper’s struggles at the top of the order.
Rickelton has managed 204 runs with a highest score of 62* and an average of 29.14. His glove work has been solid.
Heinrich Klaasen
The Sunrisers Hyderabad hitter hasn’t been bad at all, but such is the level of performance that we have come to expect of him that we have ranked him as average for season 2025 where he has managed 210 runs at an average of 35.00.
His inability to dominate attacks as South Africans know he can be largely due to the struggles of his Sunrisers team.
They have won just twice all season and are looking bereft of the sort of confidence that made them a force to be reckoned with last season. Klaasen has been very consistent all season without ever really changing the course of a game.
David Miller
The LSG finisher, Miller hasn’t had much opportunity to shine this season. As has been the case his entire career he just quietly goes on with his business.
He has scored just 104 runs all season from eight innings. He has been dismissed just three times though and is averaging 34.66.
It is hard to fault him as he does almost everything right – batting down the order from Pooran, Marsh and Markram he has not yet been called on to play a major role.
Faf du Plessis
After a solid start to IPL 2025 the veteran South African batsman went and injured himself. Featuring for the Delhi Capitals he has played just three innings to date with a high score of 50 and an average of 34.66.
His team are hoping he will be back soon as they are struggling with Aussie Jake Fraser-McGurk at the top of the order. He was dropped last time out, but Faf wasn’t quite ready to return – it is hoped he will be back again in time for the Capitals Tuesday fixture against LSG.
Must try harder
Quinton de Kock – Kolkata Knight Riders keeper and opening batsman, QdK has struggled for form all season. As was the case in SA20 earlier in the year De Kock’s on-field displays have failed to live up to his big reputation.
He scored an undefeated 97 early in proceedings but his last five knocks have seen him score 2, 23, 15, 1 and 1. It has been disappointing, and he was dropped for Rahmanullah Gurbaz last time out against the Gujarat Titans.
Absent
Kagiso Rabada
Rabada, returned home for personal reasons, and it’s unclear if or when he will be back to play again.
Corbin Bosch has had limited opportunities to perform for the Mumbai Indians and is surely ruing his decision to walk out on his PSL deal in favour of bench warming in Mumbai. Lizaad Williams has also not featured yet.
Dewald Brevis was drafted late into the CSK line-up and has yet to feature.
CSK have been struggling badly this season, and it will come as no surprise to see Brevis sent into action soon as MS Dhoni’s side look to spark themselves to life with a late season flurry.
Donovan Ferreira got a run as a sub for the Capitals, but his opportunities have also been limited and the same applies for Anrich Nortje, who returned from injury to play for KKR, but was dropped after one game to make space for the all-round abilities of Moeen Ali following the low-scoring loss to PBKS.
Matthew Breetzke is in India with LSG but finding a place in what is probably the strongest and most in-form top order in the competition is not easy. He has yet to play.
There has also been no action for Kwena Mphaka (RR) or Lungi Ngidi (RCB) and just a solitary appearance for SRH for Wiaan Mulder.
