The debut kings: Ranking the best first seasons in IPL history

The IPL season has come to an end and what a thrilling ride it was. As with every year there are new stars born – players who make their debut and announce themselves to the world.

Or, in some cases they are already stars who are imposing themselves on the Indian landscape. Most runs in a debut season is a great way to measure the impact of a players’ first season in the league.

Let’s take a moment to look at which stars have enjoyed the best debut seasons in the IPL and see which star joins the list from the latest season.

Shaun Marsh (PBKS, 2008) – 616 runs

Nearly two decades later, Shaun Marsh’s inaugural campaign for the Kings XI Punjab remains the untouched gold standard for IPL debuts. In fairness it was the first ever season of IPL cricket, so it was everyone’s debut season.

Arriving as a relatively unheralded Western Australian left-hander, Marsh missed the opening few games but took the tournament by storm once inserted.

In just 11 innings, he pillaged an extraordinary 616 runs at an average of 68.44, including one century and five half-centuries, comfortably winning the league’s very first Orange Cap.

Marsh’s efficiency and pure run-scoring volume set a historic benchmark that rookies are still chasing to this day.

Gautam Gambhir (DC, 2008) – 534 runs

Representing his hometown team Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the tournament’s maiden year, Gautam Gambhir was the epitome of consistency.

While international icons were adapting to the format, Gambhir used his elite spin-playing ability and calculated risk-taking to dismantle opponents.

Accumulating 534 runs at an excellent average of 41.07, he struck five fifties and anchored Delhi’s star-studded top order all the way to the semi-finals, establishing himself as a true blueprint for Indian anchors.

Sanath Jayasuriya (DC, 2008) – 514 runs

Long before structural shifts redefined the franchise, the Deccan Chargers boasted the vintage, raw power of Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya in the inaugural edition.

Jayasuriya brought his signature slash over point and fierce down-the-ground lofting to Indian soil, aggregating 514 runs in 14 matches.

Operating at a blistering strike rate of 166.34, his absolute destruction of bowling units included a memorable 114* off 48 balls, leaving an indelible mark on the league’s infancy.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

Cooper Connolly (PBKS, 2026) – 491 runs

The latest superstar to break into this elite tier is none other than Punjab Kings’ Australia prodigy, Cooper Connolly.

Brought into the squad under the keen eye of head coach Ricky Ponting, the 22-year-old batting all-rounder experienced an extraordinary debut season in 2026, primarily occupying the number three position.

Connolly rewrote history books by becoming the youngest overseas player to score an IPL century, smashing a spectacular 107* off 59 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Leaving opposing captains clueless, he ended his debut term with 491 runs, clobbering 32 sixes to snap an 18-year-old rookie record.

Priyansh Arya (PBKS, 2025) – 475 runs

A domestic sensation who set the competitive lower tiers alight, Priyansh Arya seamlessly adapted to the grandest stage of them all upon joining the Punjab Kings in 2025.

Unfazed by world-class bowling attacks, the stylish Indian batter displayed a full repertoire of strokes, securing 475 runs over the course of his debut tournament.

His ability to manipulate fields and accelerate at will locked down Punjab’s batting spine and cemented his status as a foundational pillar for the future.

Devdutt Padikkal (RCB, 2020) – 473 runs

Amid the unique backdrop of the United Arab Emirates in 2020, young elegant southpaw Devdutt Padikkal enjoyed a dream breakout year for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Matching up alongside global titans Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, the local youngster finished as RCB’s highest run-scorer of the tournament.

Registering five half-centuries, Padikkal amassed 473 runs in 15 matches, flashing crisp timing, immaculate technique, and a mature temperament that fast-tracked him to national recognition.

Shane Watson (RR, 2008) – 472 runs

The inaugural 2008 season was defined by Rajasthan Royals’ underdog fairy tale, and Shane Watson was the heartbeat of that campaign. While he won the Player of the Tournament award for his dual capabilities, his batting alone was elite.

Constructing an ideal blueprint for the modern T20 dynamic, Watson blasted 472 runs across 15 innings with a strike rate of 151.76. His heavy hitting in the powerplay and anchoring presence in the middle overs transformed an unheralded Rajasthan side into champions.

Cameron Green (MI, 2023) – 452 runs

Brought in on a massive auction price tag, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green justified every penny for the Mumbai Indians during his maiden campaign in 2023.

Functioning primarily as a top-order engine, Green’s towering presence yielded 452 runs in 16 matches at a superb strike rate of 160.28.

He consistently provided early momentum and showcased his immense composure by striking a sensational, unbeaten 100* off just 47 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad to power Mumbai into the playoffs.

Jonny Bairstow (SRH, 2019) – 445 runs

When England’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman landed in Hyderabad for the 2019 season, expectations were high. Paired with David Warner at the top of the order, Bairstow formed one of the most destructive opening partnerships in tournament history.

Playing just 10 matches before leaving for international duty, he hammered 445 runs at an astonishing average of 55.62 and a strike rate of 157.24.

His season highlight was a breathtaking 114 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, proving that his aggressive white-ball style was a perfect match for Indian conditions.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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How South Africa’s superstars fared at the IPL – ratings out of 10

After two months and 74 games the 2026 IPL is finally over with Royal Challengers Bengaluru defending the crown they won in 2025 with a convincing five wicket win over the Gujarat Titans on Sunday night.

Although there were plenty of South Africans in the tournament, RCB were one of the few sides who didn’t have any South Africans on their roster.

But that is not to say that the South African contingent at the IPL did badly, indeed, several of our country’s stars were outstanding for their respective teams.

With the tournament now done and dusted, let’s take a moment to look at the report cards of the South Africa players who did duty at the world’s premier event in franchise cricket.

Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – 10/10

The undisputed king of the Proteas contingent this season. Rabada spearheaded the Titans’ march to the final, claiming the prestigious Purple Cap by finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 29 scalps from 17 matches.

His opening spells set a ruthless tone for GT all year long. He couldn’t get the better of Virat Kohli in the final but, following a disappointing T20 World Cup at the start of the year, KG genuinely looked back to his potent best for the Titans.

Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 9.5/10

Lived up to every cent of his massive retention fee. Klaasen was a monster in the middle order, rewriting records as the first middle-order batsman to hammer 624 runs in a single season, featuring six half-centuries and a devastating strike rate of 160.

He almost single-handedly carried SRH into the playoff rounds. Led the Orange Cap rankings for a considerable part of the tournament.

Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians) – 9/10

Bosch struggled initially to get game time in a squad that is laden with stars. But as has been the case throughout his career, when he is called on, Bosch always steps up. Bosch played just six games for MI but he ended the season with a batting average of 50 at a strike rate of 161.29.

His primary role is as a bowler and there he excelled as well with a total of 12 wickets, a best return of 4/26, an average of 16.25, economy rate of 9.66 and a strike rate of 10.0.

Those are some seriously impressive numbers – especially compared to MI’s so-called premier allrounder (and captain) Hardik Pandya who averaged 22.88 with the bat and who took just four wickets at an average of 64.75.

Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians) – 7.5/10

Rickelton briefly took the IPL by storm when he blazed a brilliant 81 in the opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Unfortunately, he failed to maintain that early momentum, fading in successive games before ultimately losing his starting XI spot to Quinton de Kock.

However, once QdK and Rohit Sharma were injured Rickelton returned and did some damage. He finished with a highest score of 123*, a total of 448 runs at an average of 40.72.

His strike rate of 186.66 was excellent and with 38 sixes he ended the season with the fifth most sixes in the tournament.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals) – 7/10

A tale of two halves for the young Proteas star. Stubbs started the season in a blaze of glory, producing crucial match-winning knocks like his unbeaten 60 against RCB to anchor DC’s middle order.

While his scoring rate slowed down in the latter half of the tournament, finishing with 275 runs, his execution under immense pressure was highly commendable.

David Miller (Delhi Capitals) – 7/10

‘Killer Miller’ provided his typical calm assurance to the Capitals’ middle order.

While he did not replicate some of his record-shattering seasons of old, his tactical maturity helped secure key points during tight finishes.

Lungi Ngidi (Delhi Capitals) – 7/10

The towering fast bowler was good for Delhi, bowling in 11 innings and taking 13 wickets. His slower ball is the best in the business and even when batsmen know it is coming they struggle to get it away.

He returned best figures of 3/27 and finished with an average of 26.15 and an economy rate of 8.22. It is his worst average in five seasons of IPL cricket, but it is also his most successful wicket-taking season.

Would probably have claimed a few more scalps if he hadn’t injured himself in the field and been sidelined for a few games with concussion.

Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians) – 6/10

Despite initially being bench-warmed in favour of local and international combinations, De Kock reminded everyone of his world-class pedigree when given the chance.

In limited outings, he smashed an unbeaten 112*, averaging an elite 66.0 with a scoring rate over 162 to reclaim his spot. An injury brought a premature end to his campaign.

Nandre Burger (Rajasthan Royals) – 6/10

Burger showed glimpses of raw, terrifying pace and steep bounce during the early powerplay overs. However, a lack of consistency in his line and length saw him leak runs on flatter pitches.

He played a total of 13 games and took 14 wickets at an average of 31.42 and with an economy rate of 10.11.

The big plusses for Burger are the fact that he made it through the tournament uninjured and that he got to bowl in tandem with Jofra Archer, one of the best in the business – he will have learned plenty from the big England player.

Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants) – 5/10

A rather subdued campaign by Markram’s lofty international standards. Shuffled up and down the batting order, he managed 193 runs across eight matches without scoring a half-century. His structural anchor play was valued, but LSG missed his explosive capabilities at the death.

The Proteas skipper was not helped by the struggles of his teammates with Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant’s lack of form transferring pressure to players like Markram and Mitch Marsh.

Donovan Ferreira (Rajasthan Royals) – 3/10

Ferreira spent the vast majority of the gruelling two-month campaign running water and signalling tactical changes from the sidelines, as RR preferred alternative explosive finishers in their middle-order puzzle.

Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings) – 3/10

A deeply frustrating season for the talented all-rounder, Jansen failed to fire as he did last season.

The giant allrounder managed just nine wickets from 13 games with an awful average of 53.66. His contributions with the bat were negligible. IPL 2026 is a season Jansen would prefer to forget.

Dewald Brevis (Chennai Super Kings) – 3/10

Moving to CSK held massive promise, but Brevis endured a tournament to forget. Starved of quality time in the middle game time, he played 11 games, batted in eight and managed just 151 runs at an average of 18.87.

Known for his incredible strike-rate and six hitting ability the fact that he cleared the rope just ten times and hit at a rate of 127.96 puts into perspective how disappointing the 2026 campaign was for South Africa’s highest T20I scorer.

George Linde (Lucknow Super Giants) – 2/10

Brought in as an explicit spin option for slower tracks, Linde spent almost the entire tournament trapped on the bench as an unused squad backup.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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Masters of the universe: The IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament

After two months of unrelenting drama, spectacular centuries, and tournament-defining spells, the IPL 2026 season has officially drawn to a close.

While the Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrated back-to-back glory, elite individual performances illuminated stadiums across the country from opening night to the grand finale.

Compiling a definitive Team of the Tournament requires balancing raw statistical dominance with impact under extreme pressure. Selecting just four overseas slots while maintaining a structurally balanced, explosive cricket lineup is no easy feat.

Here is our ultimate, star-studded XI that dominated their specific positions to define the template of modern T20 cricket excellence this season.

1. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The modern legend was the undeniable heartbeat of the defending champions. Forced to shoulder the responsibility of anchoring the top order after Phil Salt’s unfortunate tournament-ending injury, Kohli produced a masterclass campaign.

He finished in the top tier of the tournament run charts, combining his signature anchor role with an aggressively updated powerplay strike rate that routinely dismantled opposition bowling attacks early on.

2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)

Partnering Kohli at the top is the breathtaking teenage sensation who completely took the tournament by storm. Sooryavanshi provided pure, unadulterated explosive power in the powerplay, headlined by his unprecedented strike rate and sheer weight of runs.

His fearless approach and ability to effortlessly clear the ropes made him the most electrifying opening batsman of the entire season.

3. Shubman Gill (captain, Gujarat Titans)

The Gujarat Titans captain continued his love affair with the IPL, delivering another phenomenally consistent season at the crease. Gill was the epitome of class at number three, acting as the perfect bridge between the explosive powerplay and the middle-overs acceleration.

His spectacular home form at Ahmedabad—where he consistently crossed fifty – anchored GT’s run all the way to Sunday’s final shootout, where, for once, he was unable to see his side over the line.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

4. Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Patidar completely owned the number four slot this year, emerging as the tournament’s most lethal destroyer of spin bowling in the middle overs.

Whenever RCB faced a sluggish pitch or a choking spin partnership, Patidar walked out and completely altered the momentum with his effortless, lofted maximums. His clutch half-century in the playoffs cemented his reputation as a big-game specialist.

5. Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The destructive South Africa batsman produced a historically dominant season, rewriting the record books for middle-order run aggregates.

Klaasen smashed 624 runs, routinely walking out into high-pressure scenarios and launching balls into the top tiers of stadiums with ruthless consistency.

His peerless ability to clear the boundary against both extreme pace and elite mystery spin makes him the undisputed wicketkeeper-batsman of this side.

6. Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)

Parag truly came of age as a premier finisher this season, pairing his undeniable raw talent with ice-cold maturity under immense pressure.

Spearheading the Royals’ middle-order transitions, he rescued his side from multiple collapses while maintaining a blistering finishing strike rate over 170. His clutch boundaries in tight death-overs chases made him a foundational pillar of RR’s deep playoff run.

7. Washington Sundar (Gujarat Titans)

Every elite T20 side requires a balanced tactical utility player, and Sundar fulfilled that brief flawlessly. Operating as a premier bowling all-rounder, he choked out opposition teams during the powerplay with his incredibly defensive off-spin lines.

Crucially, he paired this defensive discipline with vital, rapid-fire cameos lower down the batting order to rescue GT’s lower tail.

8. Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)

The Afghan maestro remains the most influential tactical weapon in short-format cricket. Rashid choked out opposing batting line-ups during the crucial middle overs, maintaining an exceptional economy rate below 7.00 while consistently breaking dangerous partnerships.

Furthermore, his explosive “snake-whip” batting cameos at the death added invaluable late-innings runs to GT’s totals all season.

9. Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)

Archer brought genuine, terrifying x-factor pace back to the IPL, finishing near the peak of the wicket-taking charts.

Operating as both a frontline powerplay weapon and a lethal death-overs specialist, his ability to execute pinpoint yorkers at 150 km/h completely suffocated opposition batsmen, giving the Royals a defensive shield that defined their campaign.

He showed himself to be handy with the bat on more than one occasion as well.

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The veteran swing maestro enjoyed a spectacular, vintage renaissance to take home the coveted Purple Cap with 24 wickets. Bhuvneshwar was absolutely unplayable when the ball moved early on, setting a tournament benchmark with his defensive economy rate.

His masterclass death-bowling execution under heavy pressure was the defining anchor that secured RCB’s title defence.

11. Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)

Rounding out the team is the premier India left-arm seamer, who provided exceptional tactical balance to this elite bowling department.

Arshdeep was outstanding in the death overs, utilizing a deceptive mix of wide yorkers and slower bouncers to stifle the league’s most expensive finishers. He finished the year as the leading domestic left-arm wicket-taker.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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IPL final predictions – Virat Kohli v Kagiso Rabada and other key battles

After 73 games we have reached the final of IPL 2026, and fittingly it’s the two sides that finished top of the table who will face each other in front of a sold-out Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night.

Curiously the final will be the fourth meeting this season between the two sides, so it is fair to say that they know each other well now.

The spoils were shared 1-1 in the pool phase of the competition before RCB delivered GT a sound beating in Qualifier 1. Since then, GT have levelled up their confidence after completing their highest successful chase on Friday.

It’s the defending champions playing at the home of a side who have made three of the last four finals. Sunday is shaping up to be a final for the ages.

IPL final: Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Gujarat Titans

Key talking points

RCB

Defending champions RCB enter Sunday’s showcase with excellent momentum but a heavily reshuffled top order.

Following a tournament-ending injury to opener Phil Salt, all eyes shift to the legendary Virat Kohli, who must anchor the innings alongside Venkatesh Iyer.

Backed by the blistering form of Rajat Patidar and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, RCB’s biggest statistical anomaly is their undefeated record in playoff matches over the last two seasons when defending totals above 180.

GT

The Titans have proven their resilience by bouncing back from a heavy Qualifier 1 defeat to peak at the absolute perfect moment.

Skipper Shubman Gill leads from the front, boasting an astonishing 1,310 career runs at this specific Ahmedabad venue.

Alongside the firing Sai Sudharsan and ace quick Kagiso Rabada, GT’s core is purring. Intriguingly, statistical records show GT wins 78% of matches at this ground when chasing under heavy evening dew, making the toss a massive factor.

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is the world’s largest cricket stadium, boasting a massive seating capacity of 132 000 spectators.

Functioning as the primary fortress for the Gujarat Titans, the venue features both red and black soil pitches that can alter playing conditions drastically. Expect the stadium to be packed for the final.

Captains drastically prefer to bowl first and chase at this venue.

Heavy evening dew frequently settles on the outfield during night matches, making the ball exceptionally difficult for bowlers to grip and allowing batsmen to line up shots with ease during the second innings.

The historical first innings average sits right around 175 runs.

However, the ground is highly pitch-dependent; black soil offers an even bounce that pushes par scores past 190, while red soil pitches assist spin and can produce sluggish, low-scoring games.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill dominates this venue, leading all players with 1 310 runs scored and counting.

His sensational run tally includes a venue-best individual score of 129 runs smashed during a high-stakes playoff match. He is followed closely by teammate Sai Sudharsan with 1 187 runs.

Local veteran Mohit Sharma and spin wizard Rashid Khan share the peak spot for the most wickets at the stadium, deadlocked at 29 scalps each.

Mohit Sharma holds the single-game record at the venue with his blistering career-best spell of 5/10 against the Mumbai Indians.

The highest successful chase recorded in the stadium’s IPL history is 205 runs, completed by the Kolkata Knight Riders against the Gujarat Titans.

The legendary match concluded with Rinku Singh pulling off an impossible feat, smashing five consecutive sixes in the final over to seal the win.

The lowest score successfully defended in a full 20-over IPL match at this ground is 130 runs.

The Delhi Capitals successfully restricted the Gujarat Titans to 125/6 in a low-scoring thriller, proving that the pitch can become a minefield if the ball grips.

The ground features an extreme scoring variance.

While it has hosted massive 230-plus batting exhibitions, the absolute lowest team total recorded at the stadium is 86 runs, when the Sunrisers Hyderabad were skittled out by the Gujarat Titans.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

Weather

This Sunday evening in Ahmedabad, expect sweltering and humid conditions as afternoon heat lingers. Temperatures will hover around 37 degrees, though high humidity will make it feel closer to 42.

Skies will remain clear to partly cloudy, with no threat of rain. A gentle breeze from the west will offer little relief for spectators.

Form

• RCB: W, L, W, W, W
• GT: W, L, W, L, W

Predicted line-ups

RCB

Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar.

GT

Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Nishant Sindhu, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.

Key players

Virat Kohli

The Indian veteran is RCB’s ultimate trump card for Sunday’s final.

With Phil Salt sidelined by injury, the legendary batsman bears the immense responsibility of anchoring and accelerating the innings right from the powerplay – it’s a good thing for RCB that Kohli is a man who thrives on the big occasion.

Kohli’s unrivalled BMT, flawless chasing pedigree, and vast experience under extreme playoff pressure make him the absolute linchpin. If RCB is to lift the coveted trophy, they will need Kohli to deliver a vintage, masterclass performance.

Shubman Gill

India’s Test and ODI skipper and the heir apparent to Kohli, Gill has been in outstanding form all season.

He stroked a marvellous century in Qualifier Two, to steer his side to victory and he heads into the final second on the Orange Cap rankings with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the only player ahead of him.

Gill is averaging 48.13 this season and he heads into the final with one century and six half tons from 15 innings, his runs coming at a strike-rate of 163.71.

Prediction: Gujarat Titans

This is not an easy one to call but home ground advantage will count for a lot. RCB were sensational against GT in Qualifier One, handing out a genuine hiding, but it is hard to see that gulf unfolding for two games in a row.

GT’s bowling unit is very strong and that should ultimately prove to be the difference.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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4 IPL superstars who won the orange or purple cap but missed the playoffs

Winning the Orange Cap (most tournament runs) or the Purple Cap (most tournament wickets) is considered the pinnacle of individual success in the Indian Premier League.

It highlights a player who has completely outclassed every other competitor over a gruelling two-month season. Yet, cricket remains a team sport.

On several occasions, a superstar has carried their franchise on their back, rewriting record books, while the rest of the squad collapsed around them.

These one-man army campaigns often result in an individual standing on the podium holding a prestigious cap, despite their team languishing near the bottom of the points table. Here are six times a player won an IPL cap but failed to reach the playoffs.

1. Chris Gayle – Royal Challengers Bangalore (2012)

• The Cap: Orange Cap (733 runs)
• Team Finish: 5th place (Missed Playoffs)

The Universe Boss from West Indies was at the absolute peak of his destructive powers during the 2012 season. Opening the batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gayle smashed 733 runs at a staggering strike rate of 160.74, including seven fifties and a hundred.

Despite his historic aerial assault, RCB’s bowling unit repeatedly failed to defend massive totals. The team tied on points with Chennai Super Kings but was brutally eliminated from the playoff spots due to an inferior net run rate.

2. Andrew Tye – Kings XI Punjab (2018)

• The Cap: Purple Cap (24 wickets)
• Team Finish: 7th place (Missed Playoffs)

Australia variations specialist Andrew Tye had a historic individual season with Kings XI Punjab in 2018. Tye claimed a staggering three four-wicket hauls over the course of the tournament, repeatedly saving his side during the death overs.

However, Punjab suffered a catastrophic second-half collapse. After winning five of their first six games, the team’s middle-order batting completely disintegrated, winning just one more match and leaving Tye to collect his cap from the second-to-last spot on the table.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

3. Harshal Patel – Punjab Kings (2024)

• The Cap: Purple Cap (24 wickets)
• Team Finish: 9th place (Missed Playoffs)

Harshal Patel created history by becoming the first bowler to win the Purple Cap for two completely different franchises. Moving to the Punjab Kings in 2024, his masterclass of slower balls and dipping yorkers earned him 24 scalps.

Unfortunately, Punjab’s familiar curse struck again. Plagued by top-order collapses and an inability to close out tight matches, the franchise finished second from bottom, rendering Harshal’s individual brilliance an afterthought in a lost season.

4. Sai Sudharsan – Gujarat Titans (2025)

• The Cap: Orange Cap (759 runs)
• Team Finish: 6th place (Missed Playoffs)

The IPL 2025 season witnessed the magnificent rise of Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan. The young left-hander displayed unbelievable consistency, scoring a monumental 759 runs with six half-centuries and a brilliant hundred.

He consistently anchored the innings while superstar teammates struggled for rhythm around him.

Despite holding off immense pressure from Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav to win the crown, Sudharsan’s individual masterclass wasn’t enough to drag a misfiring Gujarat side into the top four playoff spots.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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7 superstars who never played an IPL match (even though they could have)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the ultimate melting pot of global cricket talent. For nearly two decades, the tournament has attracted the world’s most elite short-format explosive stars.

However, an elite group of modern cricket icons has never walked out onto the pitch for an IPL match – even though they were available and playing elsewhere.

Whether due to geopolitical borders, timing, auction snubs, or a strict devotion to Test cricket, several legends are entirely missing from the competition’s storied database.

Here are seven superstars who never featured as a player in a single IPL game.

1. Brian Lara

The legendary West Indian left-hander was already near the end of his career when the IPL launched in 2008.

While contemporaries like Sanath Jayasuriya and Sourav Ganguly featured heavily in the early years, Lara opted out of the inaugural auction. He made a surprise entry into the 2011 draft at age 41, but franchises passed on the master batter.

He later influenced the tournament from the dugout, serving as the head coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

2. Babar Azam

As one of the world’s premier all-format batters, Pakistan’s Babar Azam would naturally have triggered massive bidding wars when he was in his pomp. However, due to political tensions, Pakistani players have been excluded from the IPL since the conclusion of the 2008 season.

Consequently, the former Pakistan captain has spent his peak years lighting up the Pakistan Super League (PSL) rather than showcasing his cover drives in front of packed Indian crowds.

3. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Much like his compatriot Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi is an elite T20 asset who has never had the chance to play in the IPL. His terrifying opening spells, sharp left-arm angle, and pinpoint death-over yorkers make him a prototype bowler for high-scoring Indian venues.

The tournament has missed out on seeing how modern opening batters would handle his ferocious first-over spells under the stadium lights.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

4. Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad was an accomplished short-format bowler in his younger years and even captained England’s T20 international side. Despite his international profile, he never made an appearance in the IPL.

Broad prioritised his longevity in England‘s Test match setup, frequently using the April and May window to rest his body or prepare for the gruelling English summer alongside his longtime bowling partner.

5. James Anderson

England’s record-breaking fast bowler James Anderson represents a complete anomaly in modern cricket. He is arguably the greatest swing bowler of his generation but never played a single domestic T20 match outside of England.

Anderson focused entirely on red-ball durability, leaving the IPL out of his schedule to protect his body for a historic international career that spanned over two decades.

6. Nathan Lyon

While Australian spinners like Shane Warne and Adam Zampa found major franchise success, Nathan Lyon remains an elusive figure to Indian fans.

“The GOAT” has over 500 Test wickets and possesses an incredible off-spin template, but he has rarely been viewed by selectors as a primary T20 draft option.

Lyon has remained a fixture for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League but has never attracted a bid at the IPL auction block.

7. Marnus Labuschagne

Australia’s eccentric top-order batter has publicly stated his desire to experience the IPL atmosphere on multiple occasions. Labuschagne entered the player auction pools in 2021 and 2022, looking to prove his adaptability ahead of global tournaments.

However, franchises viewed him strictly as a red-ball specialist, and he ultimately went unsold. He later described the snub as a “blessing in disguise” to focus on state and international commitments, but has since starred in the Pakistan Super League.

Read next: The next big thing? Five uncapped IPL stars set to dominate in the future

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From net bowlers to frontline stars – 6 IPL stars who came up the hard way

The Indian Premier League has long been a factory for rags-to-riches stories, but the 2026 season has taken this narrative to new heights.

In an era where data-driven scouting is king, there is still no substitute for the raw, unscripted drama of a net bowler getting their big break.

These are the players who arrived at training camps with no contract and no guarantee of game time, only to be handed a jersey and asked to save a match.

From speedsters clocking over 150 kph to spinners out foxing legends, here are six players who have transitioned from the shadows of the practice nets to the blinding lights of the IPL 2026 spotlight.

1. Ashok Sharma (Gujarat Titans)

The ultimate fairy tale of 2026 belongs to Ashok Sharma. A son of a farmer from Rampura, Rajasthan, Ashok was a net bowler for RR and KKR without ever making the playing XI. His brother even gave up his own cricket dreams so the family could afford Ashok’s training.

After a breakout domestic season, Gujarat Titans signed him for ₹90 lakh. He repaid that faith instantly by bowling a 154.2 kmph thunderbolt, the fastest ball of the 2026 season, proving that a former support player is now India’s newest pace monster.

2. Raghu Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

At 33, Raghu Sharma is a reminder that it’s never too late to make it.

Long considered a journeyman leg-spinner used primarily as a net bowler to prepare MI batters for wrist-spin challenges, he was officially drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for Vignesh Puthur in 2025.

In his debut against LSG, he claimed a crucial maiden wicket, becoming an overnight sensation for his persistence and old-school flighted deliveries that outclassed much younger international stars.

Also read: Biggest IPL blowouts ever – the most dominant wins in history

3. Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

While he has very much arrived now, Eshan Malinga’s journey to the top once involved a 4-hour daily bus commute in Sri Lanka just to bowl as a net bowler for the national team.

Picked up by SRH for the 2025 season, he has firmly established himself alongside skipper Pat Cummins as their leading wicket-taker in the death overs.

With 15 wickets to his name by May, he has transformed from a “replica” bowler used for practice into a frontline spearhead that even his namesake, Lasith Malinga, would be proud of.

4. Praful Hinge (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

A 24-year-old product of the MRF Pace Foundation, Praful Hinge spent time in the SRH nets before being fast-tracked into the main squad.

His moment of glory came when he executed a daring plan to dismiss teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a first-ball bouncer earlier in the season.

Hinge’s ability to handle high-pressure scenarios has seen him win multiple “Player of the Match” awards, proving he’s no longer just a “support” arm.

5. Sakib Hussain (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Another SRH find, Sakib Hussain rose from extreme poverty to the IPL stage after impressing coaches as a net bowler during regional trials. On his debut, he delivered a devastating spell of 4/24, dismantling the opposition middle order.

His story is a classic IPL archetype: a player discovered in the dusty practice tracks of Ranchi who found himself taking wickets under the lights of a packed stadium just weeks later in India.

6. Harsh Dubey (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

While technically a domestic veteran for Vidarbha, Harsh Dubey was often overlooked by franchises until he served as a tactical net bowler for SRH.

Captain Ishan Kishan eventually handed him the new ball in the Powerplay, and Dubey responded by stifling some of the league’s most aggressive openers.

His transformation from a “practice spinner” to a genuine Impact Player has been one of the tactical highlights of the 2026 season.

Read next: The 7 exciting teenage prodigies set to light up IPL 2026

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