IPL History: 5 Indian legends who never won an IPL trophy 

Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

The BCCI initiated the revolutionary Indian Premier League after a young Indian team led by MS Dhoni captured the first ever ICC T20 World Cup in South Africa. This historic win forced the BCCI to take the shortest format of the game seriously and today India is home to the most watched T20 league on the planet.

T20 cricket has always been believed to be the youth's game as the format demands a huge level of fitness and also fearlessness. A lot of senior international cricketers have tried their luck in this format. While some have been very successful, the others failed sadistically.

Also Read - IPL History: 10 international stars who played only one match in their IPL career

In this article, we will have a look at those 5 legendary Indian cricket stars who could never win an IPL trophy in their careers:


#5 Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan played 10 IPL seasons (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Zaheer Khan played 10 IPL seasons (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

India's most prolific left-arm fast bowler, Zaheer Khan played 10 IPL seasons for 3 different franchises but unfortunately, he never won an IPL championship as a player. He started his IPL journey as a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 but moved to the Mumbai Indians the following year. His team never made it to the playoffs till 2010 before he once again switched back to RCB in 2011.

Also Read - 9 Indian players who have played for both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore

Though RCB did not win the cup, they reached the final once. Khan returned to Mumbai in 2014 but the Mumbai franchise failed to repeat their 2013 success. Delhi snapped up Zaheer next and the capital city franchise was Zaheer's last ever franchise. Khan was assigned the captaincy of his team but to everyone's disappointment, he could not inspire his team to glory.

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#4 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2010 (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Anil Kumble played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2010 (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

Anil Kumble never played a T20 international in his life but his performance in the IPL signified that he would have been a match winner for the nation in the shortest format as well. Kumble played for RCB in his IPL career which lasted 3 seasons. The leg-spinner led his team to the finals of IPL 2009 but fell agonizingly short of winning the trophy.

The Royal Challengers had a disastrous debut season but the 2009 tourney established them as a top team. In Kumble's farewell season, Bangalore once again reached the semifinals but they lost to the Mumbai Indians to crash out of the tournament. Kumble's last IPL game came against the Deccan Chargers in the third place play-off where RCB crushed DC.

Also Read - IPL History: Deccan Chargers 2008 squad - Where are they now?

Though Anil Kumble never won an IPL trophy, he proved himself as a game changer for Bangalore.

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#3 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid played the first 3 editions of IPL for his home side, RCB. (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Rahul Dravid played the first 3 editions of IPL for his home side, RCB. (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

The Wall, Rahul Dravid was one of the top Test players of the world when the IPL commenced. Not many expected him to fare well in this format but Dravid defied all odds to emerge as a fine T20 player in the IPL. Being the local Karnataka boy, Dravid started off his IPL journey as a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 but his association with RCB ended in 2010 as the franchise released him.

Also Read - 4 players who were released by their home franchise after IPL 2010

Dravid then played for Rajasthan Royals but the Jaipur-based franchise could not repeat its 2008 heroics under Dravid's reign. Ultimately, Rahul retired from the IPL in 2013 without an IPL trophy to his name.

The Karnataka-born legend even failed to win the CLT20 despite reaching the final of the tournament.

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#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag with the elusive Orange Cap on his head (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Virender Sehwag with the elusive Orange Cap on his head (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

Virender Sehwag, who has now become a cricket expert and cricket commentator was one of the most dashing players of his time. The Delhi boy kicked off his IPL journey with his home franchise in 2008. He led his team to the semifinals in 2008 but the team failed to make it to the final. Delhi reached the final 4 on multiple occasions but never did they reach the season finale.

Sehwag then moved to the Kings XI Punjab in 2014 where he reached his first ever IPL final but unfortunately, Kolkata Knight Riders took the title home that year. In Sehwag's last IPL season, Punjab finished in the bottom half of the points table. The swashbuckling opener announced his retirement from IPL without lifting the trophy even once.

Also Read - IPL History: All-time best-retired XI

Though he has quit the game, Sehwag still rules the hearts of his fans with his humorous words on social media.

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#1 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly captained the Pune Warriors side in the year 2012. (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)
Sourav Ganguly captained the Pune Warriors side in the year 2012. (Image courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

Perhaps, one of the unluckiest legends in the history of cricket, Sourav Ganguly had one of the worst IPL careers. In the 5 seasons he played, his team never made it to the top 4, forget winning the title. Dada captained his home franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders from 2008 to 2010 but the team never generated any momentum.

He played for the Pune Warriors India next but the franchise always languished at the bottom of the points table. Ganguly bid adieu to the league in 2012.

Also Read - IPL history: Pune Warriors India squad- Where are they now?

The left-handed batsman had a disastrous IPL career as an individual player as well.


Thus, this completes our countdown of the 5 legends who never won an IPL trophy. Which of these names surprised you the most? Have your say in the comments box below.

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Edited by Debjyoti Samanta