It has been more than a decade since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as we approach the 11th edition of the tournament starting on April 7.
Over these 10 years, the IPL has thrown up many talents who have gone to carve out successful careers at international level, especially for India.
Here, we take a look at four players who first made it big in BCCI’s T20 franchise competition.
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN
Now established as India’s leading spinner in the Test format, Ashwin had first come to the limelight in the IPL. After playing a sole match for Chennai Super Kings in the second edition in 2009, Ashwin turned it on in style in the 2010 edition, bagging 13 wickets in 12 matches.
He then put on a show in the following Champion League T20 where he picked up another 12 wickets in just six matches. His performances made the Indian selectors take notice and very soon Ashwin was on the plane with the team for the Zimbabwe tour.
Since then, there has been no looking back for the off-spinner who now has 311 Test and 150 ODI wickets for India in a glittering career still going strong.
Ashwin in action for CSK.
RAVINDRA JADEJA
After vice-captaining India to the winner’s trophy in the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup, Jadeja made his maiden bow in the IPL with the Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals.
He went wicketless in the inaugural edition as the Royals scripted a fairytale tournament win. However, his performances with the bat and on the field were enough for Warne to label Jadeja as the ‘superstar’.
Coupled with his impressive showing in the Ranji trophy, Jadeja was soon making his first appearance for the Men in Blue in an ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Now a veteran of 35 Tests and 136 ODIs, Jadeja has established himself as one of the leading spinners in world cricket, forming a lethal partnership with Ashwin.
Jadeja hits out in the IPL.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL
The India leg-spinner has been around in the IPL sine 2011 though it took him four years to finally make his mark. A part of the Mumbai Indians between 2011 and 2013, Chahal played only one IPL match for the franchise before being bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014.
Chahal finished as the highest-wicket taker for the Bangalore franchise for two seasons running with 23 and 21 wickets respectively in the 2015 and 2016 editions.
Those performances were enough to convince the Indian selectors to put him on the plane to Zimbabwe for his international debut in 2016. His partnership with Kuldeep Yadav has seen the pair replace Ashwin and Jadeja as India’s designated spinners in the limited-overs setup and they recently played a big part in the Men in Blue’s maiden ODI series win in South Africa.
Yuzvendra Chahal (l) used the IPL as a platform to grow.
HARDIK PANDYA
The India all-rounder’s rise through international cricket has been nothing short of meteoric. He first caught the eye after smashing an unbeaten 61 off just 31 balls for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2015 edition. He also slammed a quick-fire 21 off just eight balls against Chennai Super Kings while claiming three catches in a man-of-the-match display.
Seeing his performances, Sachin Tendulkar said that Pandya will be playing for India within a year. The batting maestro was subsequently proved right when the Mumbai all-rounder was given his India debut in a T20I clash against Australia at Adelaide in January 2016.
Now capped at the Test level too, the future is looking even brighter for the 24-year-old Pandya.
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
