The unbreakable bond: 5 foreign players who have played for only one IPL franchise

The IPL over the years has seen a fair share of transfers. Every year, the franchises leave out some of their players and hunt for exciting, young talents. While doing so, they generally keep the core of their side intact.

Over the years, it has been observed that overseas players are more likely to face a switch of clubs than Indian players. Almost all the marquee foreigners are shifted from one franchise to another every time there is an auction.

However, there are still few who have managed to stay with the same team for a long time because of their invaluable contributions. Let us take a look at the foreign players who never changed their IPL franchise.

Note: Only those players who have played 6 or more seasons for the same franchise have been considered here.

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#5 Lasith Malinga

Malinga has been the best bowler for the Mumbai Indians in IPL history.

Lasith Malinga has been one of the few players who have defined Mumbai Indians. Joining the franchise in 2009, Malinga has seen the Mumbai Indians through their highs and lows over the years.

In 110 IPL matches, Malinga has picked 154 wickets and is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the history of the league. All these wickets have come at a miserly economy of 6.86 with 4 four-wicket hauls and best figures of 5/13.

At his prime, he has made a lot of mess of timber and has been Mumbai's most bankable bowler. He stayed with the franchise till their third title win in 2017 and now serves as MI's bowling mentor.

#4 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh has been a great performer for the KXIP.

Shaun Marsh is the only foreign player who has played for the same franchise for the first ten seasons of the IPL. The Orange Cap winner of 2008 has been the numero uno for the Kings XI Punjab over the years. In 71 matches for the KXIP, Marsh has scored 2477 runs at an average of 39.95.

During all the dismal years of the franchise, Marsh has raised his own battles and has been the lone fighter. Known to be a free-flowing player, he has always stood apart the rest of the Kings XI Punjab batting line-up.

Surprisingly, he was left out of the side in 2018 even when his form was going great. The long association between Marsh and KXIP came to an end and Marsh found no bidders later.

#3 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard is Mumbai's all-time crowd-favorite

Mumbai Indians and Kieron Pollard are synonymous! It is hard to imagine Mumbai Indians without Kieron Pollard. The Trinidadian made his first appearance in the IPL in 2010 and since then has been providing great entertainment

Over the years, he has proved to be an indispensable asset for the men in blue because of his ability to hit towering sixes and barrier-like protection on the boundary. In 130 IPL games, he has scored 2419 runs striking at 145. He has entertained the Mumbai crowd with 151 sixes throughout his IPL career.

He may not have been a prolific run-scorer but has scored when Mumbai needed the most. A notable instance of the same being the IPL final 2013 when he smashed 60 off 32 balls which led the MI to their maiden title victory.

#2 David Miller

The Killer Miller can smack it out of the park when the ball is in his arc.

The southpaw has been Kings XI Punjab’s 'man for all seasons' for a long time now. Miller was picked by the Punjab franchise in 2011 and had to wait for a long time before he got a game. He announced himself on the IPL arena with a 37-ball 100 against RCB in 2013.

But once he established himself, there was no stopping him. Miller’s firepower in the middle order helped strengthen the Kings XI Punjab’s batting line-up quite a bit. Punjab have had some torrid years in the IPL in recent times, but season after season, Miller has stepped up and delivered.

Miller’s illustrious IPL numbers read 1613 runs from 68 games at a staggering strike rate of 141. No wonder why David Hussey, the then Kings XI Punjab skipper once called him ‘Kings XI player for life’.

#1 Sunil Narine

The long association between the KKR and Narine is an unbreakable bond.

Arguably the best foreign spinner to play the IPL, Sunil Narine has been one of the IPL greats. Narine is the only foreign spin bowler to pick up 100 IPL wickets.

Joining the Knight Riders in 2012, he has spun a web around every team that he has played against. 108 wickets from 93 matches at an economy of just 6.48 are an evidence of this fact. Even today, batsmen find his variations hard to decipher.

In the recent years, he has shown his batting prowess while opening the batting and playing the role of pinch-hitter to perfection. Narine continues to be an invaluable player for the Kolkata Knight Riders.