IPL: Indian players who have never represented their hometown team

The Indian Premier League is, without doubt, the most watched, star-studded T20 cricket league in the world. Rivalries are part and parcel of sport and the IPL has taken Indian city rivalry to another level.

Though we began the inaugural edition with Sachin Tendulkar (MI), Sourav Ganguly (KKR), Virender Sehwag (DD), Rahul Dravid (RCB), Yuvraj Singh (KXIP) being named as the icon players of their respective city franchises, that local flavour and connect has been missing as players tend to move to different teams making it difficult for fans to always support their hometown.

Even after a decade, there have been few star Indian players who have never had the opportunity to play in front of their passionate hometown crowds. Here are some of those players:

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#7 Murali Kartik

Matches: 56, Wickets: 31 Economy Rate: 7.24, Strike Rate: 37.06

Teams played for: Kolkata Knight Riders, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab

Murali Kartik has never played for Chennai Super Kings

Born in Chennai, Murali Kartik has quite stunningly never represented his hometown or home state in any form of cricket. The left-arm spinner started out in the Delhi junior system and represented Railways through his 18-year Ranji Trophy career.

Kartik was signed up by Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. After 3 steady years, he moved on to Pune Warriors India. Pune's withdrawal from IPL meant that Kartik went back into the auction again and he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 as a replacement for Kiwi left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

After a good season at Bangalore, Kartik was bought by Kings XI Punjab in 2014, where 2 horrendous games brought an end to his stop-start IPL career.

#6 Parthiv Patel

Matches: 120, Runs: 2375, Average: 21.99, Strike Rate: 117.45, Fifties: 11, Catches: 60

Teams played for: Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore

Parthiv Patel didn't represent Gujarat Lions during the two years of its existence

Parthiv Patel has represented the most teams in the IPL. He has already gone on to represent 6 teams during the eleven years of IPL history. The wicket-keeper batsman was signed by Chennai Super Kings in the first auction in 2008. After three seasons, he played for Kochi Tuskers Kerala during the only year of its existence.

Kochi's termination meant that Parthiv was added back into the auction in 2012 and he was signed by Deccan Chargers. Deccan Chargers' termination in 2012 meant that he was automatically added to replacement team Sunrisers Hyderabad's squad next year. One season later he made the journey across the border to Royal Challengers.

He made it 5 teams in 5 years as he moved to Mumbai Indians in 2015. Parthiv had his most successful stint in IPL with Mumbai Indians, where he was provided with the license to go hard at the top and provide his team with brisk starts. 2016 and 2017 saw the entry of Gujarat Lions as a replacement for Rajasthan Royals and the Gujarat-lad missed out on the opportunity to represent his home state in IPL.

This season he is back with Royal Challengers Bangalore once again.

#5 Ishant Sharma

Matches: 76, Wickets: 59, Economy Rate: 8.17, Strike Rate: 27.74

Teams played for: Kolkata Knight Riders, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI Punjab

Ishant Sharma went unsold in the auction this year

Ishant Sharma has never worn the Delhi Daredevils kit despite playing for 5 teams in his 10-year IPL career. A fabulous start to his international career in Australia in 2008 saw Kolkata Knight Riders shell out a massive fee to secure his services. Ishant Sharma didn't live up to the expectations which meant that KKR didn't exercise the option to retain him.

Deccan Chargers signed him up in 2011 and when the team was replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ishant continued with the Hyderabad based side till 2015. He had his two most successful campaigns in 2011 and 2013 when he formed a formidable partnership with Dale Steyn.

His performances dropped in 2014 and 2015 and he was let go by Sunrisers. Two seasons at Rising Pune Supergiants and Kings XI Punjab in 2016 and 2017 respectively failed to turn his fortunes around. He went wicketless in 6 matches for Punjab in 2017 and that spelt doom on his IPL career as he went unsold in the 2018 auction.

#4 Ambati Rayudu

Matches: 124, Runs: 2839, Average: 28.67, Strike Rate: 129.39, Fifties: 16, Catches: 46

Teams played for: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings

Ambati Rayudu hasn't played for either Deccan Chargers or Sunrisers Hyderabad

Hailing from Hyderabad, Ambati Rayudu joined the Mumbai Indians in 2010 after his stint in ICL and stayed with them for eight seasons till he made the move to Chennai Super Kings this year. Rayudu was a crucial component in the middle-order and he played a key role in Mumbai's resurgence from 2010. He has been a part of MI's title wins in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Rayudu's consistent performances season after season saw the MI team management place trust and retain him till this year. Mumbai Indians' loss has ended up being Chennai Super Kings' gain.

Rayudu has justified Chennai's faith in him by racing to the top of the batting charts for this season. His scintillating performances have also put him on the verge of an Indian team call-up after a long time. How Sunrisers Hyderabad would love to have a player of Rayudu's calibre to boost their struggling middle-order and to add a little local flavour that has been missing since VVS Laxman's retirement.

#3 Dinesh Karthik

Matches: 161, Runs: 3183, Average: 25.87, Strike Rate: 127.67, Fifties: 14, Catches: 93, Stumpings: 28

Teams played for: Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders

Dinesh Karthik has never been signed by Chennai Super Kings, due to Dhoni's presence

Dinesh Karthik has a stupendous record for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. He's been one of the best players in the domestic circuit for over a decade now. However, the wicket-keeper batsman has never donned the yellow of Chennai Super Kings in any of the eleven editions of the league due to the presence of MS Dhoni behind the stumps.

Dhoni's assured presence with the wicket-keeping gloves has meant that CSK have never made an attempt to sign Dinesh Karthik, especially since he is highly valued in the auction.

Karthik began his IPL career in Delhi Daredevils where he had three middling seasons, which was followed by a similar season at Kings XI Punjab in 2011. A move to Mumbai Indians in 2012 didn't really change his fortunes but he showed the world his class in 2013 as he scored 510 runs in a title-winning campaign.

Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore came out with massive bids to secure his services in 2014 and 2015 respectively, but they were left regretting their decision after Karthik once again failed to live up to his price tag. He was signed by new team Gujarat Lions in 2016, where enjoyed two good seasons.

He was bought for a massive price yet again this year by Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he was signed with the additional responsibility of being the skipper of the side. Karthik has had a great season so far- with the bat, behind the stumps and as a captain.

#2 Harbhajan Singh

Matches: 144, Wickets: 133, Economy Rate: 6.95, Strike Rate: 22.97, Catches: 42

Teams played for: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings

Harbhajan Singh played for Mumbai Indians for the first 10 seasons of the IPL

Harbhajan Singh was signed by Mumbai Indians in the inaugural auction in 2008 and stayed with the team for the first 10 seasons. He has been a crucial component of the spine of the Mumbai Indians team that has remained together for many years now.

When he was initially signed in 2008, he was India's first choice spinner. Though he slipped down the radar in the Indian team, the turbanator remained MI's first-choice spinner through the years. He proved to be a real utility player for MI as he often came on to bowl the crucial overs to keep it tight in middle overs and was effective in swinging the bat around to add a few useful runs in the final overs.

Bhajji was retained by MI in 2010 and 2014 but they let go of the option this time and Chennai Super Kings jumped at this opportunity and grabbed hold of him. Bhajji has quietly gone about his work this season, unlike the chirpy Punjabi lad that he is.

#1 Virat Kohli

Matches: 158, Runs: 4775, Average: 38.20, Strike Rate: 130.25, Fifties: 33, Hundreds: 4, Catches: 65

Teams played for: Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli has only represented Royal Challengers Bangalore through his IPL career

Royal Challengers Bangalore made the most important signing in the 2008 auction by securing the services of a young Delhi-lad by the name Virat Kohli. Kohli, a 19-year old then, became a famous name in the cricketing circle after leading the U-19 team to the World Cup title in Malaysia at the start of the year. Little did RCB know that this boy would grow up to dominate world cricket for years to come.

The Indian skipper is the only cricketer to play for the same team for all 11 seasons. Kohli began slowly as his first three seasons had more downs than ups, as he managed just two half-centuries in that time. However, once RCB secured his services, they were never going to let him go back into the auction as the potential that Virat possessed was quite clear to everyone.

Kohli's long-time association with RCB has had major disappointments as the Bangalore side is yet to win the IPL so far, despite having the likes of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers in their side. Though RCB are still searching for their first title, they are admired by fans around the country due to the presence of the Indian skipper.

As of now, it looks like the strong association between RCB and Kohli is not going to end anytime soon and he will keep going until he can finally lay his hands on the IPL title.