The IPL (Indian Premier League) will be premiering with its 17th edition in 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India also known as the BCCI began this T20 league back in 2008 to introduce franchise cricket and use the market of T20 cricket that was on elevated strides following India’s success in the T20 World Cup 2007. Aside from this, Bollywood stars also played an important part in the expansion of a profitable cricket league, with superstars such as Juhi Chawla, Preity Zinta, and Shahrukh Khan having ownership of the IPL franchises.
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Over time, the IPL went on to become the largest cricket league globally and now is among the richest sports leagues internationally. Multiple legendary cricketers from all across the world have been a part of the cash-rich league all over the years and also played an important component in the expansion of the league. Aside from this, IPL has also offered many young and aspiring cricketers who are now among the leading players in International cricket. However, there are quite a few players who have been part of the IPL since its introduction in 2008 and will be seen playing once again in the forthcoming season of the tournament in 2024. In this article, we will discuss about 10 such players who were part of the 2008 IPL and will be seen again in the 2024 IPL.
- MS Dhoni
Notably, one of the finest IPL captains, MS Dhoni made his initial appearance in the cash-rich league in its inaugural season in 2008. He was selected by CSK (Chennai Super Kings) and went on to become the captain of the franchise after he led India to the historic 2007 T20 WC success. Under his captaincy era, CSK emerged as the champions 5 times (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) and will be playing as the defending champions in the 2024 IPL season. However, Dhoni also played for the Rising Pune Supergiants in IPL 2017 and 2016 when CSK was banned from the league because of allegations of illegal betting and match-fixing. He is the face of the CSK team and among the most treasured players in the IPL. Currently, after 16 years, Dhoni is set to lead his team once more in the 2024 IPL season, which is also likely to be his last outing in the profitable T20 league.
- Virat Kohli
One of the most prominent games in the IPL, Virat Kohli initially appeared in the cash-rich league back in 2008. He was selected by RCB (Royal Challengers Banglore) after he led the U-19 Indian team to the World Cup triumph in Malaysia. He came as a hopeful youngster back in 2008 and is presently the all-time dominating run-scorer of the tournament with a whopping 7263 runs from 237 matches at an average of 37.25 with fifty half-centuries. The prolific batter has been a component of RCB in all the former 16 editions and will play for the same team once again in the 2024 IPL season. He is the Poster Boy of the RCB team and has also been the captain of the franchise from 2013 to 2021. Kohli had an incredible season in IPL 2016 where he amassed a record-breaking 973 runs from 16 matches at an average of 81.08 besides 4 centuries. He led RCB to their 3rd IPL final in that edition where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the title battle. Regardless of not winning the cup, Virtual Kohli is one of the greatest players in the IPL and will be seen playing for his team for the straight 17th edition in the 2024 IPL.
- Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma was a find of the Indian team in the T20 World Cup 2007, with his half-century against South Africa during the league stage and a quickfire 30 against Pakistan in the final. However, one would have thought that this talented young cricketer would go ahead to become one of the most victorious captains in the IPL. Sharma started his journey in IPL back in 2009 following the Deccan Chargers (DC) acquired his services. He was a part of DC’s title success in 2009 and also demonstrated his bowling with a hat trick in a match against Mumbai Indians in the same season. In 2011 he joined MI and went ahead to become the captain of the franchise during midseason in 2013. It turned out to be a step-forward year for him as he led MI to their maiden 2013 IPL title and went on to repeat the success in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Now Rohit is set to feature in the 2023 IPL as a player as Mumbai Indians have once again bought Hardik Pandya, who will take over the captaincy in the forthcoming season of the tournament.
- Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja was among the young players who were a part of the Indian team that won the Under-19 WC in 2008. He was selected by RR (Rajasthan Royals) ahead of the opening season of the IPL. Jadeja has been one of the primary players in the cash-rich league for the past 16 years and will be seen playing for CSK in the 17th season of the tournament. He has been a part of 4 title-winning campaigns which include 3 for CSK in 2018, 2021, and 2023 and 1 for RR in 2008. He has delivered a couple of memorable performances with both ball and bat throughout his IPL career and will look for yet another memorable season in the 2024 IPL.
- Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is one of the senior players in the Indian tea and will be seen playing the 17th consecutive IPL season. Dhawan came as a hopeful youngster after Delhi Capitals selected him ahead of IPL and had a good season with 340 runs from 14 matches at an average of 37.77. Currently, he’s in the second position in the list of all-time dominating run scorers of the IPL with 6617 runs from 217 matches at an average of 35.39 along with 50 half-centuries and 2 hundreds. He has played for various IPL teams such as Mumbai Indian, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, and Delhi Capitals. He has also won an IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. He will now be seen guiding Punjab Kings in the 2024 IPL and will be searching to take the franchise to their maiden title.
- Ravichandran Ashwin
Expert Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is among the players who were very much a part of the 2008 IPL and will be seen playing in the ensuing 2024 season as well. Ashwin joined the CSK team in the initial season of IPL. He was a part of the CSK till 2015 and has now been a part of 2 title-winning campaigns in 2011 and 2010. Following that, he went on to play for RPS (Rising Pune Supergiants), Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings. He is set to play his 3rd consecutive season for Rajasthan Royals in the 2024 IPL edition.
- Manish Pandey
Another young Indian player who caught everyone’s attention following India’s success in the U-19 WC of 2008. Pandey has played a pivotal role in the IPL since 2008 following which he was selected by MI ahead of the initial season. Following that, he went on to play for RCB, KKR, Pune Warriors, LSG, SRH, and Delhi Capitals during his IPL career all over the years. He is the very first Indian to score a century in the cash-rich league following which he scored an undefeated 114 runs against DC while playing for RCB in the 2009 IPL fixture in Centurion. He was also a part of KKR’s title in 2014 where he was adjudged Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 94 runs in the final against Kings XI Punjab. Now Pnadey is set to play for the KKR team once again in his 17th consecutive season in the 2024 IPL.
- Ishant Sharma
Expert Indian quick bowler Ishant Sharma is another player who will be playing his consecutive 17th season of the 2024 IPL. He made his debut during the 2008 IPL season for KKR after the franchise acquired his services. Following that, he went ahead to play for DC, Rising Pune Supergiants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings. He has been retained by Delhi Captains once again ahead of the 2024 IPL and will play as the senior spearhead pacer for the team in the ensuing season.
- Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is also among the most experienced players in the IPL who were part of its initial season back in 2008 and will be seen playing in the upcoming edition once again in the 2024 IPL edition. He made his IPL debut for MI in 2008. After a few editions, he joined RR and has also captained the side on numerous instances. Aside from these, he has played for DC, Rising Pune Supergiants, KKR, and CSK. He has been kept by CSK for the 17th edition and a memorable season in the 2023 IPL where from 14 matches he amassed 326 runs at an average of 32.60 and an impressive strike rate of 172.49 and also won this very first IPL title as a player.
- Piyush Chawla
Expert spinner Piyush Chawal has been an essential part of the IPL since its inception and is to date going strong in the league. He made his debut during the 2008 IPL for Punjab Kings. After 6 years with Punjab, he joined KKR ahead of the 2014 IPL and went on to win his very first IPL title as a player and hit the succeeding runs for KKR in the dramatic finals against Punjab. He also played 6 years for KKR and then joined CSK in the 2020 tournament. However, he didn’t have a memorable outing during that season and was selected by MI for the 2021 tournament. Chawal had his finest IPL season where he concluded with 22 wickets from 16 matches for MI and he is all set to play once again in the 2024 IPL edition.
