With IPL 2024 about to begin on Friday, March 22, now is as good a moment as any to reflect on the past and remember the good times. Many players have been a member of the cash-rich league from its start and remain so to this day.
For 16 years, these players illustrated flexibility and endurance, demonstrating strengths enabling their prolonged careers at this level. We present five elite competitors:
1. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan, India’s opener, is one of the IPL’s longest-serving players. He used to play for the Delhi Daredevils (formerly the Delhi Capitals), but currently he represents the Punjab Kings (previously Kings XI Punjab).
Dhawan had to battle Gambhir and Sehwag for a spot in 2008’s Daredevils top order. But nowadays, he’s a seasoned campaigner in Punjab’s lineup.
He is also their captain, thus he has the extra burden of pouring on the runs.
2. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik, who is one of the senior Australian wicket-keepers and plays as a batsman, fired the first tracer in the inaugural season and now has announced the finale of his illustrious career in IPL 2024.
Karthik had just been picked up by the franchise team without competing in the auction and it was the day after a fantastic ICC World T20 tournament in 2007, which India won under the captaincy of MS Dhoni- he was a very important member of that side.
In 2024, interestingly, he will trial for Royal Challengers Bangalore, which he has been defending since the 2022 session. It is no news that Karthik has already expressed this 2023 IPL as his last t20 outing. This agitates his being that he wants to be remembered for something.
3. MS Dhoni
Who else than the legendary MS Dhoni could be on this list? MS Dhoni, who led the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL’s debut season, remains the team’s captain and elder statesman 16 years later.
The ageless MS Dhoni is still as cunning as a fox behind the stumps, walking out to bat lower down the order just to remind seasoned bowlers who the master is.
With much conjecture that each IPL will be MS Dhoni last, the now-retired India great is a gift that keeps on giving to Indian cricket fans and the city of Chennai.
4. Rohit Sharma
People saw him as a newcomer part of the Deccan Chargers group with star players in that first IPL season. But Rohit Sharma matured into an all-time icon cricketer over the years. He is now India’s captain, having developed from a rookie into an absolute legend.
Rohit Sharma won the IPL with DC in only his second season and was sold to the Mumbai Indians in the 2011 mega auction, where he has remained ever since.
The 36-year-old was Mumbai’s captain till last year and was replaced this season by Hardik Pandya, who was acquired from Gujarat Titans in a high-profile transaction. Sharma would aim to bat freely this season, not letting the absence of captaincy worry him.
5. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, one of the greatest hitters of all time, is also among the players who have been a part of the IPL since its start.
What is remarkable about Kohli’s record is that he is one of the rare players who has remained faithful to a single team, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Although he was a young player rising through the ranks under Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble’s leadership in the first season, he subsequently assumed captaincy.
Virat Kohli has decided to step out as captain after the 2022 IPL season. This has allowed Kohli to begin the innings and play with complete freedom.
