IPL: Delhi Daredevils's first ever IPL XI- Where are they now?

Delhi Daredevils are the only active IPL franchise to have not yet reached the final of an IPL, despite being the part of the tournament since the inaugural edition. In the ten year history of IPL, Delhi Daredevils have qualified for the playoffs only thrice in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Delhi Daredevils had a roller coaster IPL 2008, where they managed to pip out Mumbai Indians to 4th place at the last minute, thereby reaching the semifinals of IPL 2008. In the semifinals, Delhi Daredevils lost to Rajasthan Royals by a huge margin.

Delhi Daredevils played their maiden IPL match against Rajasthan Royals on 19 April 2008 and won the match in a convincing manner by 9 wickets.

Currently, only four players who took the field for Delhi Daredevils in their maiden IPL match against Rajasthan Royals are still playing in the IPL, with only one of those players reuniting with Delhi Daredevils franchise in this year's IPL, after a long gap of 8 years.

So, let us look at the playing XI of Delhi Daredevils, which took the field in their maiden IPL encounter against Rajasthan Royals:

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#1 Gautam Gambhir

Unsung hero of Indian Cricket, Gautam Gambhir was Delhi Daredevils's best batsman in IPL 2008, and finished the tournament as second highest run scorer overall, with 534 runs in 14 matches at an average and strike rate of 41.07 and 140.89 respectively. In Delhi Daredevils first ever IPL match, Gambhir scored unbeaten 58 runs off 46 balls, and hit 7 fours and a six, thereby helping Delhi Daredevils win the match.

Gautam Gambhir made his debut for India on April 2003 in an ODI match against Bangladesh, but become a regular member of Indian Team in all the 3 formats after inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, and was the chief architect behind India winning ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC ODI World Cup 2011 with his superb knocks of 75 and 97 in the finals of ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC ODI World Cup 2011 respectively.

Post World Cup 2011, Gambhir was dropped from Indian team due to poor form in January 2013, and since then, has made sporadic appearances in Indian Team and last played for India in November 2016.

In IPL apart from Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir was Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011-2017 and led the Knight Riders to two IPL titles in 2011 and 2014. In this year's IPL, Gautam Gambhir is back as the captain of Delhi Daredevils after a long gap of eight years.

#2 Virender Sehwag (C)

Former Indian opener, Virender Sehwag was a nightmare for bowlers during his playing days, because of his fearless batting which could change the course of the match in just a few overs. Virender Sehwag was captain of the Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural edition of IPL, and had the best batting strike among all batsmen in IPL 2008 with 184.54 and hit 21 sixes in the tournament.

Sehwag opened the innings for Delhi Daredevils in their maiden IPL match, along with Gautam Gambhir and scored 12 runs in just 4 balls before being dismissed by Shane Watson. Overall in IPL 2008, Sehwag scored 406 runs in 14 matches.

Sehwag made his debut for India on April 1999 in an ODI match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Since his debut, Sehwag was a regular member of Indian Team in all the 3 formats and was part of Indian Team that reached the finals of ICC World Cup 2003 under Saurav Ganguly, along with being the member of Indian Team that won ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC ODI World Cup 2011 under MS Dhoni.

Just like his opening partner Gautam Gambhir, Sehwag was dropped from Indian team post World Cup 2011 in 2013 due to poor form and retired from international cricket and IPL in October 2015. In IPL, Sehwag was part of Delhi Daredevils from 2008-2013 and later went on to play for Kings XI Punjab from 2014-2015. Post-retirement, Sehwag become a commentator and is currently the coach and mentor of Kings XI Punjab since IPL 2016.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan first came into limelight in ICC U-19 World Cup 2004, when he scored 505 runs from 7 matches at an average of 84.16, which is a record for most numbers of runs scored by a batsman in a single edition of ICC U-19 World Cup. Post U-19 World Cup 2004, Dhawan had to wait for six years before making his Indian debut on October 2010 in an ODI match against Australia, where he was dismissed for a duck.

Post World Cup 2011 when Gambhir and Sehwag were dropped due to poor form, Dhawan became a regular member of Indian Team in all the 3 formats, and was one of the main reasons behind India winning ICC Champions Trophy 2013 in which he was adjudged as Player of the Tournament for his stupendous performance with the bat, and is currently one of India's best batsman in ODI and T20 formats.

In IPL 2008, Shikhar Dhawan was the 3rd highest run-scorer for Delhi Daredevils with 320 runs from 14 matches. In Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match, Dhawan put on an unbeaten match-winning partnership of 112 runs of just 63 balls with Gautam Gambhir for the second wicket and scored 52 runs off 41 balls by hitting 8 fours.

In IPL apart from Delhi Daredevils, Dhawan also played for Mumbai Indians from 2009-2010 and now-defunct Deccan Chargers from 2010-2012. Currently, Dhawan is an important member of Sunrisers Hyderabad since IPL 2013.

#4 Manoj Tiwary

Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary is one of the unluckiest cricketers to have ever played for India, as he was dropped from the Indian team for Rohit Sharma in late 2012 at a time when he was in prime batting form of his life.

In Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match, Manoj Tiwary did not get a chance to bat. Overall Manoj Tiwary had a poor IPL 2008, as he played only 7 matches and scored 104 runs at an average and strike of 26 and 122.35.

Manoj Tiwary made his debut for India in February 2008 in an ODI match against Australia on the back of strong performances in the domestic circuit, and last played for India in July 2015 against Zimbabwe.

In IPL apart from Delhi Daredevils, Manoj Tiwary also played for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2010-2013 and Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. Manoj Tiwary is currently the skipper of Bengal in the domestic circuit and will turn out for Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 IPL.

#5 Dinesh Karthik (WK)

Currently the toast of Indian Cricket for hitting a last ball six against Bangladesh that helped India win the T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka, Dinesh Karthik made his debut for Indian team on September 2004 against England in an ODI match. But the emergence of MS Dhoni in Indian Cricket meant that Karthik failed to establish himself as a regular member of Indian Team post his debut.

Despite being in and out of Indian Team post his debut, Dinesh Karthik was a member of Indian Team that won ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013 under MS Dhoni. It was only recently in late 2017, that Karthik made a comeback to Indian Team and scored the famous 29 runs off just 8 balls against Bangladesh in the final helping India win the Nidahas Trophy, and is currently fighting for a spot in middle-order with Manish Pandey in ODI format.

In Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match, Karthik did not get a chance to bat. Overall in IPL 2008, Karthik scored 145 runs from 8 matches at an average and strike rate of 24.16 and 135.51 respectively. In IPL, Dinesh Karthik has so far played for five IPL franchises and will captain Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2018, which is going to be his 6th IPL franchise.

#6 Mithun Manhas

Domestic veteran Mithun Manhas was a tower of strength for Delhi in the domestic circuit from early 2000 to 2015 but failed to break it into the Indian Team on the international arena.

In IPL 2008, Mithun Manhas played just one match and that match was Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match against Rajasthan Royals. In that match, Manhas did not get a chance to bat but ran out dangerous Yusuf Pathan with his brilliant fielding.

In IPL apart from Delhi Daredevils, Manhas also played for now-defunct Pune Warriors India from 2011-2013 and Chennai Super Kings in 2014. Currently, Manhas is an assistant coach of Kings XI Punjab since IPL 2017 and plays for Jammu and Kashmir in the domestic circuit.

#7 Rajat Bhatia

Just like Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia is a domestic warhorse who played for Tamil Nadu and Delhi in the domestic circuit but did not get a chance to represent India on the international arena despite consistent performances in the domestic circuit.

In Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match, Bhatia did not get a chance to bat and dismissed Mahesh Rawat with the ball. Overall Rajat Bhatia did not have a good IPL 2008, as he scored just 34 runs from 9 matches and only picked up 6 wickets.

In IPL apart from Delhi Daredevils, Bhatia also played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant and was unsold in the recently concluded IPL Auctions 2018. Currently, Rajat Bhatia plays for Gazi Group Cricketers in Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League in Bangladesh.

#8 Daniel Vettori

New Zealand's legendary spinner, Daniel Vettori conceded 35 runs from his 4 overs and picked up the wicket of Rajasthan Royals top scorer Ravindra Jadeja in Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match. Overall in IPL 2008, Daniel Vettori played just two matches for Delhi Daredevils, due to national duty and picked up 2 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.75.

Vettori played international cricket for New Zealand from 1997 to 2015 and was a member of the New Zealand team that reached the finals of ICC World Cup 2015, and retired from international cricket with more than 600 wickets to his name in all the 3 formats of the game, along with being the most capped cricketer for New Zealand in Test and ODI formats with 113 and 295 caps respectively.

In IPL, Vettori played for Delhi Daredevils from 2008-2010 and later on for RCB from 2011 -2015 and retired from all forms of cricket after IPL 2015. Currently, Daniel Vettori is the coach of RCB in IPL since 2016.

#9 Farveez Maharoof

Out of favor Sri Lanka's all-rounder, Farveez Maharoof was the man of the match in Delhi Daredevil's maiden IPL for his excellent bowling figures of 4-0-11-2. In IPL 2008, Maharoof often played the role of a finisher for Delhi Daredevils and finished the tournament with 112 runs from 9 matches at a strike of 157.75 and picked up 13 wickets.

Farveez Maharoof first made his impression in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2004 in which he captained the Sri Lanka team, and very soon after the U-19 World Cup 2004 Maharoof made his debut for Sri Lanka on April 2004 against Zimbabwe in an ODI match. Since his debut, Maharoof has failed to establish himself as a regular member of Sri Lankan team because of his inconsistent performances, and last played for Sri Lanka in June 2016.

In IPL, Maharoof only played for Delhi Daredevils from 2008-2010 and played his last IPL match against Kings XI Punjab in April 2010. Currently, Maharoof is playing for Nondescripts Cricket Club in Sri Lanka T20 tournament.

#10 Brett Geeves

Former Australian fast bowler, Brett Geeves was the most expensive bowler for Delhi franchise in their maiden IPL match against Rajasthan Royals, as he was smashed for 41 runs in 4 overs. Overall in IPL 2008, Geeves played just two matches and took 1 wicket at an economy rate of 11.37.

Geeves played just a solitary ODI match for Australia against Bangladesh on August 2008, in his entire international career as he was forced to retire at an early stage of his career due to series of back injuries in 2011.

In IPL, Geeves only played for Delhi Daredevils franchise in IPL 2008 and currently works as a commentator and journalist.

#11 Glenn McGrath

Australian legendary fast bowler, Glenn McGrath is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of international cricket and a leading contributor to Australia's domination in world cricket from 1999-2007.

McGrath played for Australia from 1993-2007, and ended as the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in test cricket with 563 wickets a record which still stands, apart from 381 wickets in ODI format.

McGrath played for Delhi Daredevils from 2008-2009 and retired from IPL at the end of IPL 2009. In Delhi Daredevils maiden IPL match, McGrath bowled an economical spell of 4-1-21-1. Overall in IPL 2008, McGrath picked up 12 wickets from 14 matches at a miserly economy rate of 6.61.

Currently, Glenn McGrath is the director of MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, and also is the Co-Founder and President of the McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer support and education charity founded by McGrath in the memory of his deceased first wife Jane, who died due to breast cancer in June 2008.