5 Players Who Played For Most Number Of Franchises In IPL History

Another exciting edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is round the corner and the fans have already started the buzz around it. The introduction of IPL in 2008 has changed the complete picture of the game and has provided platforms to many young cricketers in India. Even many international players made it to the national team based on their performance in the most popular franchise-based cricket league in the world.

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Although the league has witnessed many changes in these 12 years, many cricketers have stuck to only one franchise right from the start of IPL like Virat Kohli. MS Dhoni had to play for Rising Pune Supergiant during the ban imposed on Chennai Super Kings but returned in 2018. Even Sachin Tendulkar also played only for Mumbai Indians before announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket.

On the other hand, there are many cricketers, who have struggled to find a strong base and represent them for years. As a result, they have had to change their team from time to time with many players even representing as many as seven franchises in these years.

We at Cricket Addictor will take a look at five players who played for the most number of franchises in the history of IPL:

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5. Yuvraj Singh – (KXIP, PWI, RCB, DD, SRH, MI)

Yuvraj Singh was the icon player and captain for Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab in the first two seasons; in 2010, the third season, icon player status was discontinued and the captaincy given to Kumar Sangakkara. The former India all-rounder registered two hat-tricks in the second edition and became the first bowler to scalp two hat-tricks within a span of only 17 days.

In 2011 IPL, a new franchise by the name Pune Warriors India brought Yuvraj Singh for a hefty sum and appointed him as their skipper. However, due to medical problems, Yuvraj was not a part of the 2013 and 2014 edition of the competition. He joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, represented Delhi Daredevils in 2015 before plying trade for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and 2017 and then returned to Kings XI Punjab in 2018.

But owing to poor performances, Punjab decided not to retain and Yuvraj went to Mumbai Indians at the dying moments in the 2019 IPL auctions. The veteran all-rounder announced his retirement earlier this year and will not be a part of the cash-rich league this time around.

4. Parthiv Patel – (CSK, KTK, DC, SRH, RCB, MI)

Patel was auctioned in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) to Chennai Super Kings. He used to be a regular in the team and opened with the former Australian opener Matthew Hayden. However, he did not keep wicket with captain MS Dhoni donning the wicket-keeping gloves. For the fourth season, he was signed by Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Later, it was announced that Parthiv will be leading the Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the rest of the 2011 Indian Premier League.

As a result of the termination of Kochi Tuskers franchise, Parthiv along with the other players from the franchise went to the auction ahead of the 2012 Indian Premier League season. He was picked by Deccan Chargers (now known as Sunrisers Hyderabad) for $1m During the 2012 IPL Trading Window. Parthiv was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad) in 2013 and by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014. In the next edition, the cricketer from Gujarat once again changed his base to Mumbai. 

In January 2018, he was once again bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the auction and since then he been playing under Virat Kohli. Recently, the franchise retained him for the next season.

3. Thisara Perera – (CSK, KTK, MI, SRH, KXIP, RPS)

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera has been a regular face in franchise-based cricket across the globe. His ability to smack the ball in the lower-order and then scalp crucial wickets make him an important stakeholder in whichever team he plays for. Perera has also showcased his skills in the cash-rich IPL over the years and has represented as many as six teams from 2010 to 2016.

The MS Dhoni-led franchise Chennai Super Kings were the first to identify his potential and roped him in the 2010 IPL auctions. Perera changed his base in the next season joining Kochi Tuskers Kerala, who have winded up now, for a hefty sum in the next season. He also played for Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab before joining Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016.

However, he has not found any bidder in the last few seasons and will hope to secure a deal in the upcoming auctions in Kolkata on December 19. Perera, who is currently playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, will hope to play some whirlwind knocks and be in the good books of the selectors ahead of the auction day.

2. Dinesh Karthik – (DD, KXIP, MI, RCB, GL, KKR)

Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced wicketkeeper-batsman in the scheme of things. He led a young Kolkata Knight Riders team to playoffs in 2018 but failed to make it to the finals. However, the Kolkata-based franchise lost track in the middle of the 2019 edition and failed to qualify for the top four. Karthik will hope to put forward his best efforts and take the side all the ways this time around.

Meanwhile, before Kolkata, Dinesh Karthik has been a part of five more franchises. The veteran wicket-keeper batsman joined Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural edition of the competition and represented them three years before joining Kings XI Punjab in 2011 for a record amount before joining Mumbai Indians for the 2012 edition of IPL.

In 2014, he was once again bought by Delhi, in 2015 by Royal Challengers Bangalore and in 2016 by Gujarat Lions, being retained for the 2017 season before finally joining Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018.

1. Aaron Finch – 7 teams (RR, DD, PWI, SRH, MI, GL, KXIP)

Finch was first drafted into the Rajasthan Royals squad in 2010. He was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals) IPL franchise in the 2011 IPL Player Auction. He continued with them for two seasons before joining Pune Warriors India in 2013. He had two half-centuries and a Player of the Match award to his name in the 2013 Indian Premier League.

On 12 February 2014, he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Player Auction for a massive amount. Mumbai Indians then roped in the swashbuckling Australian opener in the 2015 season, but he could not play for the team due to injury. In 2016, he went to Gujarat Lions. Finch was bought by Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 IPL Auction. He was released by KXIP at the end of the season.

The Aussie skipper decided to opt-out of IPL 2019 so that could prepare for the 2019 Cricket World Cup and he might once again be in the draft list for the upcoming season.