IPL 2019: 5 players who have played the most matches for a single team

Cricket in India is a religion that everyone follows. It is a part of the everyday life of Indians, with players getting demi-god status. Fans took pride in being the followers of certain players. This prompted the administrators to introduce the concept of Icon players when the Indian Premier League was announced.

They wanted to have these players as the face of the franchises and build the team around them. Although most of those players have retired, the franchises have continued to stick with the strategy of forming the team around a single player.

As a result, teams retain some of their players before every auction without concerning about the deduction in their purse. It has also helps them to keep the core of the team intact. With IPL all set for its 12th season, let us look at top 5 players, who have played the most matches for a single franchise.

#1 Virat Kohli - Royal Challengers Bangalore - 163 Matches

Virat Kohli - Only player to play 11 seasons of IPL for a single franchise

Virat Kohli was signed on a youth contract by RCB in 2008 after he led the Indian U-19 team to World Cup triumph. Kohli kept improving every year and his form was ever-rising. This convinced the management to keep him as he was the sole retention before 2011 auctions.

He was appointed the vice-captain of the side and he ended the tournament as the season's second-highest run scorer with 557 runs, at an average of 46. He was appointed a full-time captain in 2013. He had an impressive season scoring 634 runs, and his tally was only behind Michael Hussey & Chris Gayle.

2016 saw him shatter all records as he amassed a staggering 973 runs in the season at an unimaginable average of 81. It also included four centuries as he was literally invincible in the season. With 4948 runs from 11 seasons, he is the only player to have played every season for the same franchise.

#2 Suresh Raina - Chennai Super Kings - 147 Matches

Raina is the only player to score centuries in IPL, CLT20 & T20I

Nicknamed as Mr.IPL, no one has had more impact in the IPL than Suresh Raina. In fact, he is the only player to have scored more than 350 runs in every season of the IPL. It was his Man of the Match performance that helped CSK beat Mumbai Indians in the 2010 finals.

He was retained in 2011 and he repaid the faith with a crucial 73 off 50 balls in the first qualifier after his team were reeling at 7/2. Runs continued to flow from the bat of the southpaw as he became the first player to reach 2000 and 3000 runs in the IPL. Raina scored his first IPL century against Punjab in 2013.

In 2014, his 25-ball 87 in the second qualifier saw some scintillating hitting of the cricket ball. His century later that year helped CSK beat KKR in the finals of Champions League T20. He is the all-time leading run scorer in the IPL and CLT20.

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#3 - Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Chennai Super Kings - 145 Matches

Mahendra Singh Dhoni shares an emotional connect with Chennai

There are many identities for Mahendra Singh Dhoni that have been bestowed upon him over the years. But one thing that he has enjoyed a lot is being the captain of Chennai Super Kings. Right from the day when CSK pipped all franchises to bag him, his association with the South Indian city has been on a rising trend.

Under his captaincy, CSK not only qualified for the knock-outs of every season, as he also led them to three IPL titles and two CLT20 titles. He has played many memorable knocks over the years and has often helped his team get out of tricky situations.

His association was so strong that when CSK was reinstated in 2018, he came back into the team without a second thought. Fondly called as "Thala", Dhoni is the only middle order batsman to feature in the top-10 run-getters list.

#4 Harbhajan Singh - Mumbai Indians - 136 Matches

Harbhajan Singh in action for the Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians bought Harbhajan Singh in the 2008 auctions for a price of US$ 850,000. As Tendulkar was injured at the start of the season, Harbhajan was handed the responsibility to lead the side. It was in 2010 when Mumbai topped the points table, and he ended the season as the team's highest wicket-taker.

When injuries once again plagued Mumbai during the 2011 CLT20, it was Harbhajan who took over the captaincy and led Mumbai to their first ever title. His stellar performances for Mumbai continued for years as he was again instrumental in Mumbai's first ever IPL title in 2013. He was the again the team's leading wicket-taker of the season.

He along with Lasith Malinga forged a brilliant bowling partnership as they picked up wickets every season. Although Harbhajan's wicket-taking ability reduced later, he was still effective in the shortest format as his economy rate was below seven.

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#5 Kieron Pollard - Mumbai Indians - 132 Matches

Pollard has played some enthralling knocks for the Mumbai Indians

After his bludgeoning big hitting in the 2009 CLT20, Kieron Pollard became a hot property in the 2010 auctions. After a fiercely contested auction battle, Mumbai Indians bagged Pollard, and the association has continued for a decade. His knock in the 2010 finals almost won the Cup for MI only to be denied by Dhoni.

But his exploits won Mumbai three IPL titles in the space of five years. Every time Pollard scored over 300 runs in the season, MI have gone on to clinch the title. His 60 off 32 balls powered Mumbai to a respectable total in the final of the 2013 edition. The knock won him the Man of the Match award and his team the IPL title.

Voices were raised at the start of the 2018 edition as Pollard was out of form. But he silenced the critics with a 23-ball 50 against Punjab in a must-win game. Having played 132 matches for Mumbai, he still remains a key member of the franchise.