IPL 2025: Nine players from the first season who are still active, including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni

IPL 2025: Some of the game’s greatest players have been with us since the start, but many have come and gone over the past 20 years.

The cricketing superstars are getting ready for another thrilling summer of thrilling Twenty20 cricket as the Indian Premier League enters a new season. As they compete for the ultimate franchise cricket trophy, some of the biggest names in cricket will face off against one another across the ten teams. Some of the game’s greatest players have been with us since the IPL’s inception, but many have come and gone over the past 20 years.

In this section, we will examine nine IPL 2025 legends who played in the first edition in 2008.

MS Dhoni

Since 2008, the Chennai Super Kings talisman has been a consistent presence behind the wicket and is arguably the godfather of Indian cricket and the IPL. A long-haired MS Dhoni made a spectacular entrance into the IPL after making his name known to the cricketing world by leading an underdog India to the first-ever T20 World Cup championship in 2007. After Chennai Super Kings outbid all other teams to sign him for $1.5 million, he became the most expensive player in the first auction. And the money was well spent because he and Rohit Sharma became the most successful captains in IPL history, leading the team to five titles. At 43, Dhoni, who is affectionately referred to as “Thala” by devoted CSK supporters, will be the oldest player this season.

Sharma Rohit

Rohit Sharma is the second most successful captain in the history of the competition, having led his team, the Mumbai Indians, to five championships, just like Dhoni. The Mumbai boy, however, is the most successful player in the league with six titles, having won the IPL in 2009 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. MI supporters will continue to look to their “Hitman” even though he is no longer the team’s captain as they aim for an unprecedented sixth IPL championship.

Virat Kohli

With over 8,000 runs in 17 seasons, Virat Kohli is without a doubt the IPL’s “King.” The fiery Delhi was selected by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a mere $50,000 at the first auction all those years ago. Since the start, the fiery Delhi boy has been a devoted member of the team. Kohli has remained with RCB through both good and bad times, evolving from a baby-faced teenager to a fantastic captain and now a talismanic batter. Even though RCB has made it to a few finals and has consistently threatened the other teams in the league, the team has never taken home the championship. Can RCB’s iconic #18 win the elusive trophy this time around as the 18th season approaches?

Ravichandran Ashwin

In this year’s IPL, the return of R Ashwin, the prodigal son, will be one of the most anticipated stories. CSK selected the legendary off-spinner ahead of the 2025 IPL season, after he recently retired from the Indian team after an incredible career, particularly in the longest format. Back behind the stumps, “Ash Anna” developed a lethal partnership with Dhoni after being selected by his hometown team, CSK, in the 2008 auction. Prior to joining other teams for the most recent season, he was a vital member of the team until 2015. He is currently the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 180 scalps. Additionally, he will try to win another title now that he is back home.

Ravindra Jadeja

Another well-known figure in international cricket has been a part of the IPL from the start. Over the past 17 years, Jadeja has emerged as one of the most valuable players in world cricket. He was one of Shane Warne’s gems from that 2008 championship-winning Rajasthan Royals team. Widely regarded as the world’s best fielder, Jadeja plays a role in every aspect of the game. His lower-order batting skills and slow-left arm complement his on-field dynamism. He has been a member of CSK since 2012 and has won three IPL championships with the team. He hit a six and a four when CSK needed 10 runs to win off the final two balls, which was crucial to their thrilling and suspenseful 2023 title victory.

Sharma Ishant

Since 2008, the Delhi-born lanky fast bowler has been a regular fixture in the IPL dugout. Following his heroics with the Indian team in Australia, he was in high demand during the first season. He was the most expensive Indian bowler in the first edition after being acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders for $950,000. Ishant Sharma, who was acquired by the Gujarat Titans for ₹75 lakh in the auction prior to the 2025 season, will try to change that even though he hasn’t yet won an IPL championship. It’s interesting to note that Sharma is the only player to be fired in 2008 and 2025.

Manish Pandey

The right-handed batsman gained notoriety after smashing an undefeated 114 (73) for RCB against Deccan Chargers in the 2009 season, making him the first Indian batter to score a century in the IPL. Pandey was named the game’s Man of the Match, and RCB won the match handily. He wa picked by Mumbai Indians in the inaugural season before moving to RCB and he’s become a bit of a journeyman, having played for 8 franchises throughout his IPL career. After spending four seasons with KKR between 2014 and 2017, he has returned to the defending champions in search of his second IPL title; his first was with KKR in 2014 in which he starred with a man of the match performance in the final with 94 (50).

Ajinkya Rahane

Among the names on this list that Indian fans are particularly familiar with is the KKR captain. In the 2025 season, the soft-spoken batter will captain the reigning champions. He was a mainstay in the Indian team’s top order, particularly in Test matches. After being selected by the Mumbai Indians in 2008, he played for them for three seasons before joining the Rajasthan Royals, where he established himself as a major hitter. But he barely played for the Delhi Capitals in the two seasons he spent there after a few bad seasons beginning in 2020, when his tenure with the Indian team began to wind down.

Keep up with every move during the 2025 Indian Premier League. Follow the top performers with the orange and purple caps, check the IPL 2025 schedule, and keep an eye on the most recent IPL 2025 points table.