Xtra Time Web Desk: On this Day in 2008, the first-ever match of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) match was played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It was a game-changer for cricket in India, with Brendon McCullum smashing an unbeaten 158*. His knock was studded with 13 sixes and 10 fours. Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise posted a daunting 222 runs on board. RCB in reply were bundled out for 82 runs, paving the way for 140 runs win for KKR. Ajit Agarkar took 3 wickets while captain Sourav Ganguly and Ashok Dinda shared 2 wickets each.
15 years have passed and IPL has become one of the most watched global T20 league. As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of IPL, here is a look at what the players from the first match are doing now. Only three players from that first match in 2008 are still playing competitive cricket. The likes of Virat Kohli, Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma.
Let us take a look at the remaining 19 players what they are doing now:
Players who represented Kolkata Knight Riders:
Brendon McCullum – Head coach of England Test team
Sourav Ganguly – Director of Cricket, Delhi Capitals
Ricky Ponting – Head coach, Delhi Capitals
David Hussey – Mentor, Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohammad Hafeez – Still involved in cricket
Laxmi Shukla – Coach of Bengal Senior team
Ajit Agarkar – Bowling coach, Delhi Capitals
Murali Kartik – Popular commentator
Players who represented Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Rahul Dravid – Head coach, India men’s cricket team
Wasim Jaffer- Popular commentator and expert
Jacques Kallis – Coaching and commentary gigs
Cameron White – Coaching, BBL
Mark Boucher – Head coach, Mumbai Indians
Balachandra Akhil – Not known
Ashley Noffke – Coaching, The Hundred Women
Praveen Kumar – Retired cricketer
Zaheer Khan – Director of Cricket, Mumbai Indians
Sunil Joshi – Former India selector