Three players who have represented the same franchise from the beginning of the IPL 

The recently-concluded IPL auction has inaugurated the buzz, analysis, gossip, and predictions for the upcoming edition of IPL in 2019 as the squads of each of the eight franchises have been settled.

In other words, the Indian Premier League is trending in the cricketing world, alongside the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which is well-poised now, with both the visitors and hosts winning one match each.

Now, let us discuss regarding the only three cricketers who have been a part of the same franchise in the Indian Premier League, since its very beginning:

---

#3 Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

The yorker specialist is back in the Mumbai Indians squad as a player and not as a coach anymore. After mentoring the Mumbai Indians, Malinga will be seen as a fast bowler in the upcoming IPL season.

The veteran has played in 110 matches thus far, all for Mumbai Indians. He featured in the Mumbai Indians team in each year from 2009 to 2017. In 110 matches, Malinga has bagged 154 wickets at a fine average of 19.06, conceding just 6.89 runs an over.

Malinga's best season in the IPL with the ball was in 2011, where he picked 28 wickets, becoming the purple cap holder. However, CSK got away with the trophy that year.

#2 Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Kieron Pollard has been a major reason of Mumbai Indians' success in the IPL. The Windies all-rounder has played for no IPL franchise other than the Mumbai Indians.

In 132 matches, Pollard has scored as many as 2,477 runs at a good average of 28.15 and an excellent strike rate of 145. Pollard has also dismissed 56 opposition batsmen in his outstanding career in the IPL.

Despite having a forgettable year in 2018 with both the bat and the ball, Mumbai Indians have backed Kieron Pollard for the upcoming edition. It would be interesting to see how Pollard fares in the upcoming IPL edition.

#1 Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Of course, it's the RCB skipper and the Indian national team captain Virat Kohli who has played for a single franchise for the most number of matches in the IPL.

Kohli, who has played 163 matches in the IPL, all for RCB, has scored a total of 4,948 runs at an outstanding average of 38.36 and a sound strike rate of over 130. Although RCB has not won a single IPL trophy till date, Virat nearly made it happen for his team in 2016, when he scored over 900 runs and took his teams to the finals. However, RCB missed out on a golden chance from a winning position against SRH in the finals.

This time, with a strong and capable bunch of players, the RCB skipper would be hopeful about their chances in IPL 2019.