IPL 2018: 4 foreign players to survive from the first season of the IPL

IPL is one of the most successful franchise-based T20 leagues in the world. The tournament's popularity has grown over the years and has become a global event.

The fierce competition of the IPL has given overseas players an opportunity to play alongside superstars of the game, and produce some memorable performances for the cricket-crazy nation.

The IPL has witnessed some brilliant cricket by the foreign recruits, over the years. However, there are only a few overseas players who played in the very first edition of the island are still going strong.

We take a look at the only foreign players to have played the first and the latest season of the IPL.

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#1 Shane Watson

Watson has been in tremendous form playing for CSK

Shane Watson is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the IPL. In 2008, Watson was struggling to find a place in the Australian team, and was bought by Rajasthan Royals at the auction and it proved to be the turning point of Watson's career.

The all-rounder won the man of the tournament award in the inaugural season and earned back his place in the national side. Since then he hasn't looked back, and played 8 seasons for Rajasthan Royals from 2008 to 2015.

Rajasthan Royals was banned for two years in 2015 and was bought by RCB at the 2016 IPL auction, but he failed to deliver in the two seasons that he played for the franchise.

Watson is currently playing for CSK and is in a rich vein of form. In the 13 matches that he has played this year, the Aussie all-rounder has scored 438 runs at an impressive average of 33.69 and a healthy strike-rate of 147.47. He has also taken 6 wickets with the ball. Watson is also the only player to win the man of the tournament award twice.

#2 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers has played some outrageous shots in IPL

AB de Villiers is one of the most successful IPL players of all time. The dashing middle-order batsman has an IPL record to envy.

He has scored 3953 runs at an outstanding average of 39.53 and a high strike-rate of 150.93. Apart from this, he has played some unbelievable innings that have left the spectators awestruck.

de Villiers is known for his innovative stroke-play and has a huge fan following across the country. He played the first three seasons of IPL for Delhi Daredevils, and Royal Challengers Bangalore bought De Villiers at the 2011 auction and has retained him every year.

de Villiers and Kohli have been the face of the franchise for years now. His fantastic form has continued in this season as well as he has scored 480 runs in 12 matches with an outstanding average of 53.33 and a high strike-rate of 174.54.

With the South African still producing match-winning knocks, he has a lot to offer to RCB and IPL, for many years.

#3 Brendon McCullum

McCullum during his inning of 158 against RCB in 2008

Brendon McCullum set the stage on fire in the very first match of the IPL in 2008. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, McCullum made an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls.

The swashbuckling opener has played an aggressive brand of cricket throughout his career. The former New Zealand skipper played for KKR from 2008 to 2010, he then played for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011. McCullum had another stint with KKR from 2012 to 2013.

However, McCullum's golden period was during the years that he played for Chennai Super Kings.

While he made 405 runs in 2014, he made 436 runs in 2015. McCullum played the next two seasons for Gujarat Lions.

He is currently part of Royal Challengers Bangalore, and even though McCullum he had an IPL to forget, scoring only 127 runs in 6 matches, he has the ability to make a strong comeback next season.

#4 Dwayne Bravo

Bravo has entertained crowds for years

Dwayne Bravo is one of the finest all-rounders in IPL history. The Trinidadian has played 118 matches in the IPL and is the fifth highest wicket-taker of all time. Apart from his fantastic record, Bravo's ability to deliver in crunch situations has brought him a lot of success.

Bowling in the death is not an easy art to master, but Bravo has foxed batsmen with his cutters and pace variations for years now. Starting his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2008, he was bought by Chennai Super Kings in 2011, a team with which he has most of his success.

The 34-year-old has been Dhoni's go-to man. As a result of CSK's ban in 2015, Bravo played for Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017, only to come back in 2018.

In IPL 2018, Bravo has made 134 runs at an average of 67 and taken 9 wickets in the 13 matches that he has played. Bravo has fought with poor form and injuries, but looks well on course to play a few more seasons in the IPL.