15 years of IPL's inaugural match in 2008What are stars from RCB and KKR doing now?

By Akshay RameshNot many can forget the first-ever match of Indian Premier League. The world of cricket was heading into unknown yet exciting territory with 8 franchise-based teams serving up T20 cricket to a cricket-crazy nation. There were a few naysayers when the IPL got underway with 8 city-based teams, roping in superstars from across the globe.

But all it took for naysayers to become IPL believers was 90 minutes. 90 minutes of mayhem at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which was packed to the rafters on April 18, 2008. Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, two of the biggest names in Indian cricket, led their teams – Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore as the thousands of fans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium were seated in the stands, not knowing what to expect.

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For starters, IPL served up intense contests and the notion of a professional league set-up was firmed as early as the first season. Big names, who were fierce rivals in the past, were rubbing shoulders with each other in the same dressing rooms across the country, breaking the barriers between cricket-playing nations.

Brendon McCullum will be etched in the history of the IPL forever as the former New Zealand captain lit up the Bengaluru stadium, producing one of the greatest T20 knocks, Cheering for him from the stands was Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of the KKR franchise, as a glimpse of the marriage between professional cricket and Bollywood was on display in Bengaluru on that historic night.

McCullum hit 13 sixes and 10 boundaries in a knock that headlined the IPL opener as KKR hammered RCB by 140 runs. Kolkata posted 222 on the board following which RCB, which had the likes of Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Dravid, was bundled out for 82 after Ajit Agarkar’s 3 wickets and 2-wicket hauls from Sourav Ganguly and Ashok Dinda.

15 years have passed and IPL has become one of the most popular sporting leagues, let alone cricket league, in the world. BCCI made a windfall selling the media rights of IPL 2023-27 cycle for a whopping sum, close to Rs 50,000 crore.

As we celebrate the growth of IPL over the years, here’s a look at what the players from the first match are up to now.

There are only 3 players who are still playing competitive cricket in the IPL from the 22 who played in the first-ever IPL match.

Virat Kohli

The former RCB captain, who has scored in excess of 6000 runs, is still going strong and is an integral member of the franchise. Kohli has not played for any other franchise apart from RCB, having led the team for close to a decade. Kohli quit RCB captaincy after IPL 2021 but is still their star opener.

Matches228, 6844 runs

Wriddhiman Saha

Even though Saha is not in the scheme of things for India selection after a successful 40-match stint in Test cricket, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is a key member of Gujarat Titans’ all-conquering squad. Saha was part of the Hardik Pandya-led side that won the IPL title in 2022 and opens the batting for GT in IPL 2023.

Matches149, 2517 runs

Ishant Sharma

Ishant has not been in the best of forms in competitive cricket but the star bowler was roped in by Delhi Capitals for the IPL 2023 season. The seasoned campaigner is yet to get a game for the Capitals in IPL 2023.

Matches93, 73 wickets

Rest of KKR playing XI

Brendon McCullum – head coach of England Test team
Sourav Ganguly – Director of Cricket, Delhi Capitals
Ricky Ponting – Head coach, Delhi Capitals
David Hussey – Mentor, Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohammad Hafeez – Professional player, Pakistan
Laxmi Shukla – Bengal domestic cricket team coach
Ajit Agarkar – Bowling coach, Delhi Capitals
Murali Kartik – Popular commentator

Rest of RCB XI

Rahul Dravid – Head coach, India men’s cricket team
Wasim Jaffer- Popular commentator and expert
Jacques Kallis – Coaching and commentary gigs
Cameron White – Coaching, BBL
Mark Boucher – Head coach, Mumbai Indians
Balachandra Akhil – Not known
Ashley Noffke – Coaching, The Hundred Women
Praveen Kumar – Retired cricketer
Zaheer Khan – Director of Cricket, Mumbai Indians
Sunil Joshi – Former India selector