Most appearances for each of the 8 teams in IPL history

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is undoubtedly one of the best T20 leagues around the world. It has unearthed a lot of new talent not only for India but other countries as well.

Over the last 10 years, there have been only two players who’ve played for the same team (Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh).

One of the primary reasons for only two players in that list is the suspension of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Otherwise, a lot of CSK players would’ve been there on that list as well.

As we near the 11th edition of the IPL, we look back at players with most appearances for each of the 8 teams in the history of the IPL.

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#8 Sunrises Hyderabad – Shikhar Dhawan (69)

Shikhar Dhawan is perhaps the only player to have played for Sunrises Hyderabad since they entered the IPL in 2013. The Delhi-born left-hander has played 69 games for SRH.

In those 69 games, Dhawan has scored 2021 runs at an average of 33.68. He is the second highest run-scorer for Sunriser in IPL history (first is David Warner).

The 32-year old opening batsman has hit 15 fifties playing for the Hyderabad franchise. In SRH’s title-winning campaign in 2016, Dhawan played a big part as he scored 490 runs at an average of 40.83.

His partnership with David Warner at the top of the order has been one of the reasons for the team's success.

He will continue his wonderful association with Hyderabad even in the 11th season as the franchise used their Right To Match (RTM) card to retain the southpaw.

#7 Rajasthan Royals - Shane Watson (79)

Watson's consistency for RR was superb.

You would expect the inaugural champions of the IPL to have a few players play consistently. However, that is not the case.

Shane Watson is the only player to have played for Rajasthan Royals from 2008 to 2015 before the franchise was suspended.

The Australian allrounder played 79 IPL games for the Royals. He scored 2372 runs at an average of 36.49 and also has two centuries and 14 half-centuries to his credit.

With the ball, he took 61 wickets and had an economy of 7.50 playing for the Royals.

In fact, Watson has scored the most runs, taken most wickets and has the highest individual score (104*) for the team. He was also captain for a few games.

After the Royals were suspended, Watson played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and this year he will be a part of Chennai Super Kings.

#6 Delhi Daredevils - Virender Sehwag (79)

Sehwag often gave Daredevils brisk starts.

Virender Sehwag played for his home franchise for six years (2008-2013). He was at the helm of Delhi Daredevils as well for the most part of his career with the franchise.

The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ played 79 IPL games for Delhi Daredevils. He scored 2117 runs at an average of 29.00 and a strike-rate of 159.89.

He also led the Delhi-franchise in 52 games and had a win percentage of 53.84 (winning 28 games). His best years at Daredevils came in 2011 and 2012 when he amassed 424 and 438 runs in respective seasons.

However, in 2014, Sehwag was bought by Kings XI Punjab and the Delhi dasher played there for two seasons before calling it quits. He is now the mentor of KXIP.

#5 Kings XI Punjab – Piyush Chawla (89)

Piyush Chawla has picked up 84 wickets for Kings XI Punjab

This is a surprising name. Yes, Kings XI Punjab have never had a settled line-up but Piyush Chawla’s name would take a few by surprise.

The Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner was a part of the Punjab franchise for six years (2008-2013). He played 89 matches for KXIP and took 84 wickets.

He remained an integral part of the Punjab franchise for the first three years before he was bought back by the franchise for a whopping $900,000 (9 times his base price).

After a poor 2013 season, Chawla was let go and was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders and he excelled under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir.

He will continue to be a part of KKR this year as well.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders - Gautam Gambhir (108)

Gautam Gambhir captained KKR brilliantly.

Gautam Gambhir might be a Delhi player, but over the last seven years, he’s been associated with Kolkata Knight Riders. The connect he establish with Kolkata was excellent.

He played 108 games for KKR and was captain in every game he played for them. In seven years, Gambhir led KKR to the playoffs five times and led them to the IPL title twice. With the bat, Gambhir amassed 3035 runs in 108 games at an average of 31.61.

He was KKR’s talismanic player, but he will now play for Delhi Daredevils once again. But he will always be remembered for his KKR contribution.

#3 Chennai Super Kings - Suresh Raina (132)

Raina is the leading run-scorer in IPL history.

Suresh Raina is the only player in the history of the IPL to have never missed a single IPL game.

He played for Chennai Super Kings in the first eight years before they were suspended. He then played for Gujarat Lions for the next two seasons and he will now be back with CSK.

Raina played 132 games for CSK and amassed 3699 runs at an average of 34.25. He has struck 25 fifties and one century for CSK.

He even captained the Chennai franchise for a few games when MS Dhoni was out injured. Because of the special connect with Chennai, the CSK fans call Raina ‘China Thala’ which means younger leader.

#2 Mumbai Indians - Harbhajan Singh (136)

Harbhajan Singh played ten seasons for Mumbai Indians

Harbhajan Singh is one of the two players who have played for the same IPL franchise for 10 years. He has been Mumbai Indians’ workhorse.

Harbhajan has represented Mumbai in 136 games and has taken 127 wickets at an economy of 6.96. In Mumbai Indians’ title-winning campaigns in 2013 and 2015, Harbhajan Singh played a vital role.

He picked up 24 and 18 wickets in 2013 and 2015 respectively. He also contributed with the bat lower down the order at No. 7 and No. 8.

However, his association with MI has now come to an end as CSK has bought the Punjab offspinner for this season.

#1 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Virat Kohli (149)

Virat Kohli is the second-highest run-getter in IPL history.

Virat Kohli will now become the only player who has played for the same IPL team since its start in 2008.

The current Indian skipper has represented RCB in 149 games which is the most for any player for any team in the history of the IPL.

In 149 matches, Kohli has amassed 4418 runs at an average of 37.44. He has hit four hundreds and 30 half-centuries.

In 2016, he had a record-breaking season where he almost took RCB to the title single-handedly.

In that season, he scored a whopping 973 runs in 16 games at a stunning average of 81.08 (all his four hundreds came in that 2016 season). He is also leading the Bangalore franchise since 2013.

In 2018, RCB retained the Indian star batsman for a whopping amount of Rs. 17 crore.