The First 8 IPL Captains: Where Are They Now?
The Indian Premier League didn't have the same amount of fanfare or craze around it when it first came on to the scene. The organizers had to work hard to get people to know that they meant serious things and the IPL was going to last for a long time. They needed creative ideas, big-name players, celebrity support and a great standard of T20 cricket in order to please the crowds who are the backbone for such initiatives.
What they aimed for happened and the IPL is now one of the most cash-rich and influential leagues in the world. Not all players can get through to the Ranji teams due to a variety of reasons and before the IPL came, that was the base camp for selection.
The IPL offered an alternate route where players came under the radar of teams' scouts and were often invited for net sessions with the team and if they liked what they saw, they would get the player into the side offering him a substantially huge sum.
Though the brands and sponsors had some effect, it was the brilliant players and captains of the teams who attracted more attention with their entertaining brand of the game. Yet, all these players played within the spirit of the game and the friendly camaraderie between players was another reason for the league's popularity.
On that note, let us take a look at who were the first 8 IPL captains and where they are now.
#8. VVS Laxman- Deccan Chargers
VVS Laxman led his hometown based side, the Deccan Chargers for the first IPL season. The team though had a torrid time and could notch up only 2 wins from 14 games. They lost all of their last 7 games of the season and finished at the bottom of the points table.
Laxman played only the first 6 matches of the tournament but suffered an injury which ended his season prematurely. Adam Gilchrist led the team for the remaining matches. He scored 155 runs in the 6 games he played averaging 31 and made one half-century.
He played for the Deccan Chargers for the next couple of seasons and played for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in IPL 2011 and hasn't played in the IPL since.
The wristy batsman retired from international cricket in the year 2012 and boasted of great stats before retirement. He was awarded the Padma Shri award in 2011. Laxman was appointed as one of the three members of the Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
A stylish batsman during his playing days, Laxman has been active in Indian cricket ever since retirement and is also a popular commentator and analyst. He is also the mentor of IPL team, the Hyderabad- based Sunrisers Hyderabad.