Punjab Kings' Xavier Bartlett (c) celebrates with teammates the wicket of KKR's Quinton de Kock. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI:
Australian fast bowler
Xavier Bartlett made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for
Punjab Kings
(PBKS) on Tuesday, stepping in for the injured Lockie Ferguson in their clash against
Kolkata Knight Riders
(KKR) at Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
The 26-year-old was handed the new ball and made an immediate impact, dismissing KKR opener Quinton de Kock in his very first over to claim his maiden IPL wicket.
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Though PBKS struggled with the bat and were bowled out for just 111 in 15.3 overs, Bartlett contributed with a fighting 11 off 15 balls, including a boundary — one of only five PBKS batters to reach double digits.
Who's that IPL player?
Hailing from Adelaide, Bartlett rose through the Australian cricketing ranks, starting with under-19 representation before emerging as a key bowler for Queensland. His breakthrough came in the 2023-24
Big Bash League
(BBL), where he finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps in 11 games, playing a vital role in Brisbane Heat’s title-winning campaign.
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Bartlett’s BBL exploits earned him a national call-up. He made his ODI debut on February 2, 2024, followed by his T20I debut on February 13. In just a handful of international matches — 2 ODIs and 7 T20Is — he has already notched up 19 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls in the 50-over format.
Punjab Kings secured Bartlett for Rs 80 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah.
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