IPL is a franchise-based league, with teams based out of a particular city. However, to have access to home-grown fans, teams tend to hire local cricketers for the team. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant have helped their franchises in this regard. However, that’s not the case with certain teams. On that note, here, we take a look at three popular players who have not represented their home city yet in IPL.
1) Virat Kohli – Delhi Capitals
Formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, Delhi Capitals had a good chance of signing Virat Kohli in IPL 2008. The team got the first option to make the first pick of the U19 talent and the team went ahead with Pradeep Sangwan. The rest, as they say, is history.
Virat has been a terrific performer for RCB and is the only player to have represented the same franchise since the first year of IPL. He would have helped the DC brand immensely had he been onboard.
2) Shreyas Iyer – Mumbai Indians
Shreyas Iyer is one of the popular players who have not represented their home city yet in IPL. Mumbai produces a lot of cricketers for Team India and Iyer is one of them.
The youngster has played for Delhi and Kolkata but is yet to don the MI jersey. That said, in the future, this is an occurence you cannot rule out. Mumbai would surely want to replace Rohit Sharma in a big away and if things go their way, Iyer could play for MI.
3) Dinesh Karthik – Chennai Super Kings
Before IPL 2022, there were reports that Chennai Super Kings were interested in the services of Dinesh Karthik. The team did bid for the player but RCB hired him eventually.
DK and CSK would have been a successful combination. The player enjoys a strong connect with the local fans and that would have further increased the fanbase of the franchise.
