8 IPL stars who played for different teams you probably did not know

The Indian Premier League, affectionately known as the IPL, is undoubtedly the biggest cricketing festival on the planet. There may be contentions of it being ‘just not cricket’, or prejudicial to the quality of domestic players in the longest format, but there is no taking away the fact that it provides unparalleled entertainment to the cricketing masses as a whole.However, contrary to popular belief, a couple of good performances in the IPL has spring boarded more than a handful of players to the annals of International cricket. However, a rather unique genre of players actually played (or rather, mostly warmed the bench) for some other IPL team before turning it around and making it big when they got the chance for some other franchise later on.Let us have a look at some of these cases.

#8 Karn Sharma - RCB

Karn Sharma, born in Uttar Pradesh, made his debut for Railways in 2007 after it was becoming extremely difficult for him to break into the Uttar Pradesh squad. In the 2013 season, the first for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he snarled 11 wickets from 13 games at a paltry economy of 6.60.

He was aptly rewarded in 2014 with a 3.75 crore contract for the SRH becoming the most expensive uncapped player in that auction.

However, before he got his much-deserved breakthrough in 2013, Karn Sharma was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the 2009 season as a domestic uncapped player. Needless to add, he did not get a single game during the season.

From 20 Lacs in 2009 to 3.75 Crore in 2014, life certainly has been kind to this deserving Leggie.

After being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2017, he was snapped up by Mumbai Indians.

#7 Axar Patel - MI

The Kings XI Punjab campaign last year was a rags to riches one. Never really in the reckoning for the title in the recent past, the team on paper looked solid but not potential title winners.

However, that perception changed very soon with the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Miller and co. firing on all cylinders throwing caution to the wind.

However, not only did the big buys do their job, they were ably supported by the domestic crop of Manan Vohra, Sandeep Sharma and Axar Patel. Among the trio, Axar stood apart like gold in a coal mine, picking up 16 wickets at an economy of 6.22, even after bowling majorly at the death.

Mumbai, without a shadow of doubt, would be livid with themselves for releasing ‘Max-Million’ after his stunning show for Punjab in 2014. Perhaps though, they will be equally distraught having released current Indian team player Axar Patel as well. Signed in 2013 outside of the auction, he did not get a single game for the Mumbai outfit before being released ahead of the 2014 auction.

In the 2017 edition of the tournament, Axar represents Kings XI, and is one of their leading wicket-takers.

#6 Glenn Maxwell - DD

Speaking of Glenn Maxwell, the fact that he was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $1,000,000 in the 2013 auction is very well known. Nicknamed ‘Million-dollar-waste’, Maxwell played merely 3 games in that season, before being unceremoniously put back into auction.

Though he did go on to make it big for Punjab in 2014, a rather lesser known fact is that Glenn Maxwell played a couple of matches for Delhi Daredevils as well in 2012.

The unavailability of players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor and David Warner for the first two games meant Glenn Maxwell got his opportunity to shine. However, 6 runs in two games was never going to cut it for him once the big names became available.

Signed as a replacement for Travis Birt, the IPL rules meant his base price would be same as that of Birt – $20,000.

From rags to a 6 crore contract in 2014, life has moved pretty fast for this supremely talented youngster, very similar to his style of play on the field.

Maxwell is the captain of the Kings XI Punjab franchise in IPL 2017.

#5 Bhuvneshwar Kumar - RCB

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a prime example of a player who performed consistently in the domestic circuit. But it was a good run in the IPL that finally gave him a much-deserved breakthrough to the national side.

In his first extended run in 2012, he picked up 8 wickets at an economy of 7.20 runs per over. Though his figures were not too impressive, his bowling certainly captured the imagination of the selectors and international cricket came calling sooner than what he might have expected.

He has hardly looked back since, making his debut in a high-profile series against Pakistan and having an immediate impact.

Few know that before he was picked up by Pune Warriors as a domestic contract, he was a part of the RCB squad as a 19-year-old youngster as well, way back in 2009. However, he did not play a single game for the Vijay-Mallya owned outfit before being released later, an act they would most certainly go on to regret years later.

Bhuvneshwar has impressed for the Sunrisers franchise in IPL 2017 and is one of India's best bowlers currently.

#4 George Bailey - CSK

George Bailey has perhaps set the record for the highest gap between two games in the IPL!

It is no secret that the Kings XI Punjab snarled up Bailey in the 2014 auction for an economical 3.25 Crores. However, before 2014 and even years before his debut for Australia, he had been bought by the Chennai Super Kings outfit as early as 2009 for $50,000.

He even played 4 games for CSK, the last of them being way back in 2010. However, an average of 15.75 was never going to help his cause, coupled with a below-par strike rate.

One of the most improved cricketers, he is now the vice-captain of Australia and was captain on his debut in the Australian T-20 side, a unique feat indeed.

Bailey went unsold at the IPL Auctions 2017.

#3 Sanju Samson - KKR

Sanju Samson, who plays for the cricketing backwaters of Kerala in the Ranji Trophy, caught everyone’s eye with his 41 ball 63, having got his chance at the top of the order at the expense of an injury to Dishant Yagnik,

However, before making his debut for RR in 2013, he was part of the KKR outfit as a 17-year old youngster in 2012.

"Chirag and Sanju represent our investments towards the future, and we know that they have the talent and dedication to significantly contribute to our team one day." Venky Mysore said, after the signing of Chirag Jani and Samson, a prophecy that did go on to be proven true. Unfortunately for the KKR, the ‘significant contribution’ was harvested by the Rajasthan franchise instead of the black and gold.

Sanju Samson is one of the brightest prospects for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2017

#2 Steven Smith - RCB

It might surprise you that Rajasthan Royals was actually Smith’s fourth IPL team!

Steve Smith is probably the most improved cricketer of this generation. Starting out as a specialist wrist spinner, Smith today hardly turns his arm over but is one of the best batsmen in the world in all formats of the game, more so in Test cricket, a format not many gave him a chance to succeed in. His fielding, however, has been constantly brilliant and awe-striking.

His IPL career is a tad bit similar. Today, he is indispensable for the Pune franchise but not long ago, he spent a whole season on the bench for RCB in the 2010 season. Put back in the auction in 2011, he was bought by (surprise, surprise) the now defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala at his base price of $200,000.

However, an injury meant that he could not take any part for his franchise that season and the following year he made the switch to Pune where he earned his stripes as one of the coolest players in the game.

Smith is currently the skipper of the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 10th edition of the IPL.

#1 James Faulkner - KXIP

If there is anybody who comes close to matching MS Dhoni’s consistency and calibre in finishing off games with coolness and élan, it is this Tasmanian. Ironically, he isn’t even a batting all-rounder, let alone a proper batsman!

Another player like Smith who has blossomed over time rather than emerging as a child prodigy, he was sitting idle in a couple of franchises before finally featuring regularly for Rajasthan since 2013.

As early as 2011, he was signed up by the Pune Warriors India as a replacement for the injured Angelo Mathews. He played a solitary game for Pune, and impressed with the limited opportunity he got, returning with figures of 1/9 in two overs. He had not even made his international debut yet!

In 2012, he was released back into the auction where he was re-sold to the Kings XI Punjab for $190,00. In the couple of games he got, he could do nothing substantial to merit his place in the side permanently.

By the time 2013 came, he was a good look into the Australian side and was earmarked as a prospect for the future. It also meant a bigger pay-cheque ($400,000) and permanent opportunities in the Rajasthan Royals’ side and there has only been one direction in his career since – upwards.

Faulkner is currently plying his trade with the Gujarat Lions franchise in IPL 2017.