Players who have played more IPL matches than internationals

As the Indian Premier League gears up for its tenth edition, there can be little doubt that it has given certain players a new lease of life. International stars who have represented their country have been able to continually play cricket at the highest level.

That has meant that there are a few established internationals, who have actually played more IPL matches than games for their country across all formats. In the interest of fairness and to segregate players who haven't really played a great deal for their country, only players who have played 50 internationals and 100 IPL matches have been considered.

Even under such conditions, there are seven players who have played far more IPL matches than internationals. The interesting point to note here is that all seven players are Indians and of them, five have represented India across all formats.

Here are 7 players who have played more IPL matches than internationals:

Robin Uthappa

With over 3,000 IPL runs to his name, Robin Uthappa is undoubtedly one of the success stories of the IPL. Yet despite his impressive track record in the tournament in which he has played 135 times for four different teams, he has represented his country in less than half as many matches.

Uthappa has never represented India in Tests but has played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for his country, the last of which came in 2015 against Zimbabwe. Yet his total of 59 international appearances pale in comparison to his 135 games in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors, Mumbai Indians and his current team, Kolkata Knight Riders.

In fact, his international numbers across both ODIs and T20Is don't make as impressive reading when compared to his IPL form. He has 1,183 international runs to his name at an average of 25.71 where he averages nearly 30 in IPL with 3,390 runs to his name.

IPL matches	International matches
135	59

Parthiv Patel

Of all the players on this list, no one had made his debut for India, earlier than Parthiv Patel, who made his Test debut in 2002. However, in the decade and a half since then he has only played 63 international matches across all three formats for India.

While he made his Test comeback last year and is likely to add to his numbers, he still has played just 23 Tests and just 63 international matches in total. In the IPL, however, he has played 103 matches for six different teams.

Across his 63 international games, he has scored 1,650 runs at an average of 27.96. In the IPL, his time with the Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad and his current team, Mumbai Indians, has seen him score 1,927 runs at an average of 21.17.

IPL matches	International matches
103	63

Amit Mishra

When it comes to unlucky international spinners of the last decade, Amit Mishra must be at the top of the list. when he made his international debut, he had two of India's greatest spinners of all-time (Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh) to contend with and then he has had to fight with Ravichandran Ashwin, who is breaking records for fun to get into the side.

Which is why it is not surprising that despite making his ODI debut in 2003, before T20s were even a thing, he has only played 68 matches for India, with his tally of 36 in ODIs being the most across any format. However, it is in Tests, in which he has taken 76 wickets that he has most international wickets in a format.

In total, though his tally of 156 wickets in 68 matches make for impressive reading. However, his IPL numbers are even better. His time with Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and current side, Delhi Daredevils has seen him pick up 124 wickets in 112 matches. And irrespective of whether he adds to his tally of international matches, he will certainly be a fixture in the upcoming IPL for DD.

IPL matches	International matches
112	68

Murali Vijay

For someone who broke into the Indian team on the back of impressive performances in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, it is surprising that Murali Vijay has now transformed into one of India's most consistent Test batsman. So it is not surprising that the majority of his 75 international matches have come in Tests.

While he looks set to add to his tally of international matches, he is unlikely to have played more international matches than IPL games anytime soon, owing to being a regular in just Tests. In the IPL, Vijay has played 100 matches for three different teams, including his current side, Kings XI Punjab.

Vijay has 3,815 runs in international cricket at an average of 35.32 as supposed to his IPL tally of 2,511 runs at an average of 26.43.

IPL matches	International matches
100	75

Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan has won three IPL titles

No player has more IPL titles than Yusuf Pathan, who has three (two with KKR and one with RR) and thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of IPL's biggest stars, the all-rounder has played considerably more matches in the tournament than international matches.

He has represented India in 79 matches and is the only player on this list, apart from his KKR teammate Robin Uthappa, who hasn't represented India in Tests. The bulk of the 34-year-old's 79 international games came in ODIs and having played his last international game in 2012, it looks unlikely to don the Indian colors again. In the IPL, however, after 134 matches, he still remains a regular for his side, KKR.

In his 79 international games, Yusuf Pathan scored 1,046 runs at an average of 24.32. In the IPL, he has scored nearly thrice as many runs at a better average as well. 2,761 runs at an average of 30.67 gives you an idea of just why he is still an asset to his side even at the age of 34.

IPL matches	International matches
134	79

Praveen Kumar

When Praveen Kumar first broke into the international arena, many thought his ability to swing the ball prodigiously would make him an invaluable asset in the longest format of the game. Surprisingly, though, of the 84 international games that the fast bowler played across all formats, the least was in Tests.

His ODI career, which was his most fruitful in the international stage, began and ended against Pakistan. In his 68 ODIs, he picked up 77 wickets. His IPL career that has seen him play for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab and currently Gujarat Lions, has encompassed 113 matches.

In his 84 international games, Praveen Kumar picked up 112 wickets. In the IPL, despite playing over 100 matches, he is yet to touch the 100-wicket mark and at 84 scalps, he will need a good season in 2017 to make sure he gets there in this calendar year.

IPL matches	International matches
113	84

Dinesh Karthik

No player on this list has played more IPL matches than DK

Sometimes, despite all the talent that you can boast of, you can just be born in the wrong era. For Dinesh Karthik, who is the only player on this list to have played more than 100 games for India and IPL matches, he was unfortunate to be a wicketkeeper during the same time as MS Dhoni, India's greatest captain, and wicketkeeper.

Still, he played 103 matches, the majority of which came in ODIs, of which he played 71. Karthik scored more than 1,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs and considering his exploits in the IPL where he has played 138 games, it is surprising that T20Is is the format that he has represented the country least times in.

In total, his international career that spanned 103 matches saw him score 2,413 runs at an average of 27.11. In the IPL, where he has played for Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and his current side, Gujarat Lions, he has scored 2,542 runs at an average of 23.75.

IPL matches	International matches
138	103