Zakary Foulkes arrives at Chennai Super Kings with momentum, confidence, and the kind of buzz that follows a fast-rising all-rounder. His journey from Christchurch to the international stage has been rapid, but nothing about it feels accidental. From dismantling batting line-ups on debut to proving his worth across formats, Foulkes has shown that he thrives when the spotlight is brightest.
Right-arm pace, sharp movement, and an instinct for breaking partnerships make him far more than just another overseas signing. When we picked him up ahead of IPL 2026, it wasn’t for depth, it was for disruption.
With the new ball in hand, he brings bounce, aggression, and a fearless mindset that suits powerplay warfare perfectly. For CSK, he represents fresh energy in the fast-bowling unit, someone who can rattle new batters before they settle. If his early career is any indication, Foulkes doesn’t just participate in games, he tilts them.
Zakary Foulkes Personal Details
- Name: Zakary Glen Foulkes
- Born: June 05, 2002, Christchurch, Canterbury
- Age: 23y 236d
- Nationality: New Zealand
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Batting Style: Right-hand bat
- Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
- Playing Role: Allrounder
Who is Zakary Foulkes?
Zakary Foulkes is one of New Zealand cricket’s fastest-rising all-rounders, shaped by a strong grassroots system in Canterbury. Born in Christchurch, Foulkes came through local age-group cricket before establishing himself in Canterbury’s domestic setup, where his athleticism and competitive edge quickly stood out. He honed his skills in club and provincial cricket, learning to operate in conditions that reward discipline, bounce, and smart use of the new ball.
Foulkes’ rise accelerated when he broke into Canterbury’s senior teams across formats, earning recognition for his ability to make things happen rather than merely hold an end. His performances earned him opportunities on bigger stages, including franchise T20 leagues and eventually international cricket for New Zealand national cricket team.
What defines Foulkes as a player is impact. With the ball, he hits the pitch hard, attacks stumps, and looks for wickets early. With the bat, he plays with freedom and intent in the lower order. He is not built for accumulation; he is built for moments. In recent years, he has emerged as a modern all-rounder who thrives on responsibility and disruption, exactly the profile teams value in high-pressure T20 cricket.
Zakary Foulkes International and T20 Batting Stats
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 4’s | 6’s |
| Tests | 4 | 4 | 39 | 19.50 | 40.20 | 23* | 5 | – |
| ODIs | 9 | 5 | 49 | 24.50 | 89.09 | 22* | 6 | – |
| T20Is | 18 | 10 | 75 | 18.75 | 147.05 | 27* | 5 | 3 |
| T20s | 64 | 35 | 267 | 14.05 | 127.75 | 32 | 20 | 10 |
Zakary Foulkes’ batting numbers tell the story of a player who isn’t built to dominate scorecards, but to impact moments. Across formats, his role has largely been in the lower order, where survival is secondary to momentum. He doesn’t bat to accumulate; he bats to shift gears. In international cricket, his opportunities with the bat have been limited, yet whenever he’s walked in, the intent has been clear, quick runs, smart shot selection, and no hesitation against pace or spin.
His T20 profile reinforces that identity even further. As a lower-order hitter, he thrives in short bursts, finding boundaries with minimal fuss and adding valuable late-innings acceleration. Even in longer formats, his contributions have come through timely cameos rather than marathon innings. For us, that matters. CSK doesn’t just look for specialist batters; it values players who can extend batting depth and finish innings with purpose. Foulkes fits that mould perfectly, a modern lower-order contributor who adds hidden firepower to the line-up.
Zakary Foulkes International and T20 Bowling Stats
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Average | Strike Rate | Best Bowling |
| TEST | 4 | 13 | 2.88 | 28.38 | 59.00 | 5/37 |
| ODIs | 9 | 13 | 5.61 | 25.92 | 27.6 | 4/41 |
| T20Is | 18 | 18 | 9.39 | 30.00 | 19.1 | 3/20 |
| T20s | 64 | 73 | 8.15 | 22.90 | 16.8 | 4/23 |
Zakary Foulkes’ bowling numbers across international and limited-overs cricket underline why he is seen as a genuine impact bowler rather than just an all-round add-on. In Test and ODI cricket, he has already shown an instinct for breaking partnerships, often striking in crucial phases rather than simply filling overs. His ability to hit the deck hard and extract movement makes him effective against set batters, not just new ones.
In T20 cricket, his role becomes sharper. He has been used as an attacking option, trusted to bowl in high-pressure moments rather than sheltered from them. While his economy hasn’t always been conservative, his strike rate reveals intent, he bowls to take wickets, not just contain. Across the broader T20 circuit, his record reflects consistency and durability, with regular breakthroughs over volume. For us at CSK, that profile is gold. We aren’t just getting a bowler who delivers overs; we’re getting one who hunts impact, thrives in the powerplay, and has the temperament to influence games early.
Zakary Foulkes can be a highly valuable asset for CSK because he fits perfectly into the kind of multi-dimensional roles the franchise values. With the new ball, he brings pace, bounce, and aggression, giving us an attacking option in the powerplay to unsettle top orders early. His ability to take wickets rather than just contain makes him a genuine strike bowler in short bursts.
Beyond bowling, his lower-order hitting adds depth to the batting, extending our lineup and offering late-innings acceleration. More importantly, he brings adaptability, he can be used as a frontline seamer on lively tracks or as a tactical option depending on match-ups. For CSK, Foulkes isn’t just squad depth; he’s a flexible weapon who can influence games across multiple phases.
