Zak Foulkes projects at 0.09 WAR per match for IPL 2026. Across just 18 T20 matches and 363 career bowling balls, the sample is small. His raw WAR/M of -0.04 is negative, meaning his actual output has been below replacement level. The regressed projection of 0.09 reflects heavy upward regression from a small sample rather than demonstrated skill.

Foulkes is a death-overs specialist: 95% of his batting balls come at the death. His bowling splits show PP economy of 8.1, middle economy of 9.5, and death economy of 8.9. The death economy is the most relevant, sitting 1.3 below the 10.2 average.

Why Excluded?

As an overseas player, Foulkes competes for one of four slots occupied by Short (0.30), Brevis (0.47), Noor Ahmad (0.46), and Hosein (0.15). Even the injured Nathan Ellis (0.25) outprojects him. Foulkes sits sixth in the overseas queue with the lowest projected WAR/M among CSK's overseas bowlers.

His negative bowling WAR/M of -0.10 across 363 balls suggests the bowling has actively hurt his teams more than it has helped. The positive batting WAR/M of 0.06 from 39 balls provides marginal late-innings hitting value but does not offset the bowling deficit.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Foulkes is a development player on CSK's roster. He would need multiple overseas injuries and a significant improvement in his bowling output to see meaningful game time. His xImpact of 30 is among the lowest on the squad.