The only 4 overseas players to have featured in IPL since it's inception in 2008

The Indian Premier League was a one of it's kind initiative when the BCCI planned to organise the event a decade ago. The brainchild of Lalit Modi, the league proved to be the ideal platform for budding Indian talent to get the opportunity of interacting and mingling with the best cricketing expertise across the globe in order to hone their skills.

Although the league's success in delivering on this front was unfathomable back then, the present day scenario is such that all questions surrounding particularly this idea have been put to rest. IPL has indeed brought international players closer and given young Indians the platform to excel and showcase their abilities to cricket viewers all over the world.

The rule that allows only 4 overseas players to be a part of any IPL playing XI was laid down with the intention of giving equal opportunity to Indians. The foreign players are most often the one's who provide the franchise with weight in their artillery and an increased brand value while the Indians form the core of the team which enables them to go all the way.

There have been many foreign cricketers who have left indelible imprints on the minds of IPL viewers but only 4 of them have been able to weather the storm of a decade of innovation and fitness and are still going strong as they get ready to feature in another season of the marquee event.

Let us have a look at the 4 overseas players who featured in the inaugural edition of IPL and will also be a part of IPL 2018.

Brendon McCullum

McCullum is one of the most explosive openers of all time

Brendon McCullum gave the IPL the kind of start which all it's backers would not have even imagined of. Setting the league ablaze with his glittering knock of 158* in the opening match on 18th April, 2008 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, the Kiwi batsman gave IPL the cricketing blitz it needed to match the huge bucks of money that came with the involvement of Bollywood personalities and Indian business tycoons.

A veteran of the game who played a huge role in the development and transition phase of his national side, Bazz has always been a potent weapon in every IPL team that he has turned out for. He represented KKR in the period 2008-2010 and again in 2012-2013 after a one year stint with the now defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala and then formed a solid opening partnership with Dwayne Smith for CSK in 2014-2015 which continued to exist for Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017 seasons.

In his 103 IPL appearances, McCullum has scored 2753 runs, including 124 sixes, at an average of 28.09 and at a brisk scoring rate of 131.22. He has 13 50's to his name and is one of the few batsmen to have scored 2 IPL centuries. A proven match winner, the former KKR captain has been awarded the Man of the Match on 5 occasions. The only thing he did not enjoy success as far as the IPL is concerned is his stint as captain as he won only 3 of his 14 matches.

His IPL career seems to have come a full circle in 2018 as he would now walk out wearing the RCB jersey on their opening match against KKR, in a deja vu situation of 2008. RCB, who have always been batting heavy will rely on him to provide them with explosive starts in the absence of RCB veteran and IPL legend Chris Gayle.

A B de Villiers

A B de Villiers: The most feared batsman of modern era

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers or better known as Mr 360 is a super human when it comes to the game of cricket. One of the most feared batsman of modern era, de Villiers is also one of the finest fielders on a cricket field. Add to that his ability to fill in the shoes of a wicketkeeper and you are talking of a complete cricket package.

After having served a successful stint with Delhi Daredevils in the first three IPL seasons, by whom he surprisingly let go, de Villiers was bought by RCB prior to IPL 2011. He is one of the major reasons why RCB have been considered as the most dreaded batting line ups of all time as he formed an integral part of the trio of Gayle-Kohli-AB.

In his 127 IPL matches, de Villiers has accumulated 3426 runs at a health average of 38.07 and a glaring strike rate of 148.18. He has hit 153 sixes in the tournament, most of which have often left crowds gaping and bowlers dumbfounded. With 22 50's, 3 centuries and a best of 133* to his name, A B de Villiers is an all time IPL legend. His worth as a match winner is best demonstrated by his 15 Man of the Match awards.

With yet another season beckoning him, he would aim to do what he aims for his country. Playing international cricket to win South Africa a World Cup, de Villiers will be hopeful of helping RCB lay their hands on IPL silverware.

Shane Watson

Watson is the only player to have won Player of Tournament twice in IPL history

Perhaps one of the most complete and successful all rounders of the modern age, Shane Watson has been a huge success at IPL. In fact, he has used it as a platform to find his way back into the national Australian team on more than one occasion.

Bought by Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition of IPL, Watson showed immediate effect and proved the faith of the management and captain Shane Warne. He scored 472 runs at a strike rate in excess of 150 and picked up 17 wickets as he played an instrumental role in Royals' successful campaign and was deservedly honoured with the Player of the Tournament award.

Retained by the Royals in 2011 and again in 2014, Watson replicated his Player of the tournament performance in the 2013 edition as well as he ended the season with 543 runs and 13 wickets. He was bought by RCB for 2016 and 2017 edition of IPL but failed to have the kind of impact he earlier had.

IPL stats that boast of 102 matches, 2622 runs at an average of 31.21 and strike rate of 138.65, 14 50's, 2 100's, 86 wickets and 10 Man of the match awards are more than enough to reflect the kind of success Watson has had in the IPL.

Well past his prime, Watson will look to sign off on a high as he joins forces with CSK under the aegis of legendary IPL skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dwayne Bravo

Bravo is one of the most entertaining IPL cricketers

DJ Bravo is a true 'Champion' when it comes to the IPL. He added the flavour of entertainment and helped establish the much needed connect with crowds apart from being the go to bowler in crunch match situations and turning matches by fielding excellence.

Having begun his IPL sojourn with Mumbai Indians in 2008, it was his time at CSK from 2011 that helped him make the leap from just another overseas hire to an IPL great. His 122 wickets that came at a decent average of 22.58 and an economy rate of 8.2 are proof of his value as a bowler. His accuracy while executing the slower ball yorkers in the death overs made him difficult for batsmen to face.

Not just with the ball, Bravo has played some match changing knocks with the bat and has amassed 1262 runs in his 106 matches at a strike rate of 126.32. He may won the Man of the Match award on just two occasions, but he is also only one of the two cricketers to have won the Purple Cap. He holds the record for most wickets in a single IPL season as he accounted for 32 scalps in 2013.

CSK have yet again shown faith in Bravo's abilities and he will be looking to repay it by replicating his past performances that helped them being so successful. One thing that one can be assured of is that come IPL 2018 and we will see Bravo doing the 'Champion' dance.