IPL History: Ranking the IPL teams based on the number of players they used

The Indian Premier League which started in 2008 has been a huge success not only based on the revenue it generates every year but also based on the number of talents it has found all these years. IPL has been a perfect platform for many domestic and written off players to prove their worth.

The fact that the tournament is played between 8 teams, player management has been a major factor that differentiates these teams thus also playing a significant role in the success of the franchises. Backing players during their failure, grooming youngsters for the future and believing the old horses on their abilities are some important aspects when it comes to player management. For instance, Chennai Super Kings made a deal out of Ashish Nehra whose career was almost over while Mumbai Indians found Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah who are now the most important players for the national team. Also, on the other hand, too much of changes from season to the season means the core is damaged which in turn affects the success of the team.

Here we rank 8 teams based on the number of players they have used:

#8. Royal Challengers Bangalore - 128 players

RCB - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Royal Challengers Bangalore have been one of the fanciest team. RCB change their team composition year after year by releasing and buying new players with a hope that at least these would help them win their first trophy which so far has resulted in a failure. Players like KL Rahul who fared poor at RCB have gone on to become a star player for other teams thus indicating their inability to back players. In as many as 179 matches, RCB has used 128 players which eventually has been a reason for their dry run since the start of the league.

#7. Kings XI Punjab - 115 players

KXIP - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Kings XI Punjab, who reached the semifinals in the first edition had to wait 6 more years for their next playoffs thus proving a case for their improper player management. The fine show in 2014 was mostly because of Glenn Maxwell who was released after one bad season. After 2014, Kings XI made too many changes in their team which has affected them indirectly as they haven’t yet reached the playoffs since then.

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#6. Delhi Capitals - 112 players

Delhi Capitals - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) is another trophy-less team who enters every season with a lot of promises but fails due to some of the other reasons. If one looks at the players who have played for Delhi in the past, it is sure that he or she might be awestruck by the number of match-winners they had who couldn’t provide the result that they wanted. Playing 173 matches across 12 seasons, they have played 112 players. They have reached the playoffs only twice in the past 11 seasons before increasing the count to three in the ongoing season which showcases their inconsistency in managing players.

#5. Rajasthan Royals - 106 players

Rajasthan Royals - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Starting as a dark horse under Shane Warne in 2008, they won the title in the first season and surprised everyone who wrote them off. Since then their success has been very much limited as they have fallen short of match winners in their team who can win them games when needed. Excluding the 2 seasons where they were banned, Rajasthan Royals have played 145 games in which they have played 106 players. Hopefully, they find a strong core in the coming years which can turn the tides for them.

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#4. Mumbai Indians - 107 players

Mumbai Indians - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Mumbai Indians are one of the most successful teams in the IPL history, winning 4 trophies in 12 seasons. The initial phase of MI in IPL wasn’t up to the mark as they reached the playoffs only once in the first 4 the years. Their fortunes changed only after they formed a settled team and efficient think tank in 2013 which immediately reaped fortunes for them as they won their first trophy in the same year. Since then, the core of the team has remained the same which has helped them regroup faster after a defeat and bounce back to winning ways. In 183 matches they have played in 12 seasons, they have featured 107 players.

#3. Kolkata Knight Riders - 106 players

KKR - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The case of Kolkata Knight Riders is similar to that of Delhi and Mumbai. After having a dull start in the league for the first 4 years like Mumbai, their fortunes changed under Gautam Gambhir. They won 2 titles in a span of 3 years. After the 2014 season, they replicate what Delhi has been doing since the start which is starting the season with a lot of match winners on paper who eventually fail to create the needed impact on the field to win them the trophy. They have played 106 players in 176 matches in 12 seasons.

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#2. Sunrisers Hyderabad - 64 players

SRH - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Sunrisers Hyderabad who came in as a replacement for Deccan Chargers in 2013, have done a decent job in player management. They have retained their core through these years and have groomed young players which helped them win their first title in 2016 under the captaincy of David Warner. Since 2016, they have always made it to playoffs though they couldn’t win the title. In 106 matches that SRH has played so far, they have featured 64 players. Having a core team and think tank in Warner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kane Williamson, and Tom Moody, V V S Laxman and Muttiah Muralitharan, their future looks the brightest among the many.

#1. Chennai Super Kings - 74 players

Chennai Super Kings - Image Courtesy ( BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The easiest question one can ask about IPL is naming the most consistent team in IPL which is the mighty Chennai Super Kings. Their success is closely related to the way they manage their core. The core of CSK includes MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, and Faf du Plessis. They have backed their players when needed who in turn have won them games when needed the most. Excluding the 2 seasons they didn’t play, they have featured just 74 players in 160 games. This has eventually affected their success as they are the only team to have 100% playoff qualification success. Chennai missed qualifying for the finals only twice in IPL history out of ten seasons they have played so far. CSK clearly set an example for other teams. If you back your players the reward would be much higher than the expected.