Xavier Bartlett (PBKS): 106 Career Wickets but 0.08 Projected WAR/M Limits His Role
Xavier Bartlett sits outside the model's optimal XII. His projected WAR/M of 0.08 is the lowest among PBKS' overseas pace options, with bowling WAR/M of 0.04 across 1633 career bowling balls. The volume is there, but the impact is not.
Bowling
Bartlett has 106 career wickets at 9 economy across 272 overs and 80 T20 matches. By phase: 8 PP economy (vs 9 avg), 9 mid economy, 10 death economy. His PP economy of 8 is his best phase, where he has taken 43 wickets.
| Phase | Economy | vs Avg | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP (1-6) | 7.8 | -1.3 vs 9.1 | 43 |
| Mid (7-15) | 9.0 | +0.3 vs 8.7 | 20 |
| Death (16-20) | 9.6 | -0.7 vs 10.3 | 43 |
He bowls 65% of his balls at the death in his squad role. His batting adds minimal value: 205 career batting balls at 115 SR.
Why He Misses the XII
The overseas slot competition eliminates him. Owen, Stoinis, Connolly, and Jansen all project higher WAR/M. Even among the overseas reserves, Lockie Ferguson (0.15) and Ben Dwarshuis (0.11) project ahead of Bartlett. His xImpact of 37 is among the lowest on the squad.
What This Means for IPL 2026
Bartlett is deep overseas reserve cover. His path to the XI requires multiple overseas bowler injuries or severe form collapses. The PP wicket-taking ability is genuine, but PBKS have better options at every level of the depth chart.