KKR’s first-ever playing XI in IPL: Where are they now?

KKR is one of the most successful IPL teams as they have won two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir. KKR played the first-ever IPL game in the inaugural season in 2008. The first captain of KKR was Sourav Ganguly who was also the icon player for the franchise. There have been many records made by KKR in the IPL. KKR scored the most runs in a powerplay in IPL when Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn hammered RCB bowlers brutally. They also hold a record of bowling out the opposition for the lowest score. Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Gautam Gambhir, and Brendon McCullum are some of the stars who represented KKR. They also reached the 2021 IPL final but lost the game to Chennai Super Kings. The franchise has a huge fanbase and one of the reasons for their fanbase is their owner Shah Rukh Khan. KKR won the first-ever game of the league featuring an unbeaten 158 from Brendon McCullum who is currently coaching them. That game was a blockbuster. In the article, let’s decode where are the players from KKR’s first playing 11 are now 1. Sourav Ganguly (c) Sourav Ganguly. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images) Sourav Ganguly is one of the finest batters in Indian cricket history. He is also considered the greatest left-hand batter to play for India. He was the icon player of the franchise in the first season. He was with Kolkata Knight Riders from 2008 to 2010. After KKR he got associated with Pune Warriors India, he played the 2011 and 2012 seasons for them. He captained KKR in the first game and scored 10 runs off 12 balls opening the innings. The team had got success and also faced many highs and lows under Ganguly. He was tested positive for COVID recently and he is currently under isolation. Currently, he is the President of BCCI and looks after the happenings in the Indian cricket circuit. 2. Brendon McCullum Brendon McCullum. ( Photo by Subhendu Ghosh/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Brendon McCullum was the opening partner of Sourav Ganguly in KKR’s first game. He thrashed the RCB’s bowlers all around the ground scoring a mammoth 158. His 158 was the highest individual IPL score that time which was surpassed by Chris Gayle later. He is considered one of the best batters in the shortest format. He retired from all forms of the game in August 2019. He was with KKR from 2008 to 2010 and then came back in 2012 and 2013. He has also represented Kochi Tuskers Kerela, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. He played his last IPL game in 2018. Right after his retirement, he joined KKR again as the head coach and is still associated with them. He is also the head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL. 3. Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting .(Photo by Qamar Sibtain/The India Today Group via Getty Images) The “Punter” batted at number three for KKR in their first game. He captained the 2003 and 2007 World Cup winning teams of Australia. He was also a great batter of his era and often regarded as the toughest batter to bowl to. He played four games in the inaugural season for KKR before leaving for national duties. He scored 20 runs off 20 balls in that game. He also represented Mumbai Indians in 2013. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2013. He coached Mumbai Indians from 2014 to 2016 and the team got great success under him. He has also coached the Australian Cricket Team in a few series. Currently, he is the head coach of the Delhi Capitals. He is coaching them since 2018. 4. David Hussey David Hussey. (Photo Source: Twitter) David Hussey was a true Match winner for whichever team he played in his career. Hussey scored 319 runs in 14 games in the inaugural IPL season. He debuted for Australia in February 2008. He could win games for his team both with bat and ball. He also represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings. He played for KKR in their first game. He was a valuable cricketer who had all the gears that a batter should have and he could bowl off-spin too. He retired from all forms of the game in 2017. In 2019 he was appointed as the chief mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders. He also did commentary for several sports channels. 5. Mohammad Hafeez Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez raises. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Mohammad Hafeez was in the first playing XI of KKR. He never played IPL after that season because Pakistani players were boycotted by the franchises in the 2009 IPL auction. He played for Pakistan national team for many years. He played for 18 years and is a popular name in the Pakistani cricket circuit. He scored 5 runs off 3 balls in the game while batting at number five. He played eight games for KKR in the 2008 season. He took retirement from international cricket after the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. He is known as a professor by the cricketers. He played 218 ODIs, 55 Tests, and 119 T20Is for Pakistan from 2003 to 2021. 6. Wriddhiman Saha (WK) Wriddhiman Saha of Kings XI Punjab. (Photo: IANS) Wriddhiman Saha was the first wicket-keeper for KKR. He is referred to as a very skillful wicket-keeper which indeed reflects in his game. He was the first-choice wicket-keeper for India in Tests at once but now he is in and out of the team. He has played 40 Tests for India. He was handed over the baggy blue in 2010 against South Africa. He did not get a chance to bat in the first game. He has also represented Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored a hundred in the 2014 IPL final against KKR which went in vain as KKR sealed the trophy for the second time. He is still an active cricketer and he is currently with the Indian team in the Test series against South Africa in South Africa. 7. Laxmi Shukla Laxmi Ratan Shukla. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Laxmi Shukla was a batting all-rounder who played for KKR in their first-ever game. He got his India cap when he was 17 years old in 1999. He played three ODIs for India. He has scored 5000 runs and has taken 150 wickets in Ranji Trophy. The Bengal bowler was a part of the first-ever playing 11 of IPL. He didn’t get the chance to bat in that game. He got one wicket in the game. He played for KKR for the first five seasons. Shukla later represented Delhi Capitals and SunRisers Hyderabad. He played his last IPL game in 2015. He joined the All India Trinamool Congress before the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. He became the minister of State Sports and Youth Services. He resigned from the post on 5th January 2021. 8. Ajit Agarkar Former Indian cricket bowler Ajit Agarkar prepares to bowl again.(Photo by Alessandro Abbonizio/AFP/Getty Images) The worthy all-rounder from Mumbai, Ajit Agarkar was part of several famous wins of the Indian Cricket Team. He was also there when India won the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007. He has played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and 103 T20Is for India between 1998 to 2007. Ajit was a part of the first-ever playing 11 of KKR that took the field. He played for KKR between 2008 to 2010. Then he was picked by Delhi Capitals where he played from 2011 to 2013. In 2013 he announced retirement from all forms of cricket. He picked 3 wickets in the first match of KKR. Post-retirement he started his cricket broadcasting career as a cricket analyst and commentator. He is currently associated with a sports channel as a Hindi commentator. 9. Ashok Dinda Ashok Dinda. (Photo Source: Twitter) Ashok Dinda represented the franchise based on his hometown for the first three seasons of the IPL. He opened the bowling for KKR in their first game and picked two wickets which included the wicket of Virat Kohli. He has represented Delhi Capitals, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 2020 he started to play domestic cricket for Goa where he played for one year. He also worked as a commentator a few times. He played 13 ODIs and 9 T20Is for India between 2009 to 2013. He retired from all forms of the game in January 2021. He is currently associated with Bhartiya Janta Party and is a member of the legislative assembly. 10. Murali Kartik Murali Kartik of Surrey bowls during the LV County Championship match in 2012. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) Murali Kartik was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who played for India. He played eight Tests and 37 ODIs for India. He was a part of the first-ever playing 11 of KKR. He played for Railways in FC cricket. After KKR he got contracts with Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings. He also played for Lancashire, Somerset, and Surrey in English County cricket. Kartik played his last IPL game in 2014. He started his cricket commentary career after quitting as a player and he is associated with several sports channels as English and Hindi commentator. His performers were decent but luck was not in his favor due to which he was never able to cement his place in the national side. 11. Ishant Sharma Ishant Sharma ODI. (Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images) The tall fast bowler from Delhi started his IPL career with Kolkata Knight Riders and was in the playing 11 in the first game. He is the only second fast bowler after the great Kapil Dev to play 100 Tests for India. He is an active cricketer and a regular feature in the Indian Test squad. He made his international debut for India in 2007 when he was just 18 years old. He was the first-ever bowler to take a wicket in IPL history. He dismissed Rahul Dravid in that game. He also played for Deccan Chargers, SunRisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals. He is 33 years old and currently with the Indian team in South Africa to play Test series against them.

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KKR’s first-ever playing XI in IPL: Where are they now?

The Knights hammered RCB in their opening game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

6. Wriddhiman Saha (WK)

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