When the Indian Premier League started back in 2008, people around were not entirely convinced with neither the quality of the idea nor with the future of the league. However, despite all these doubts, there were players who walked in and were willing to be part of the sojourn right from the inception.

5. Jacques Kallis

He started his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and then moved across to the Kolkata Knight Riders and with his all-around abilities, he was one of the first names to be inked on the team sheet. In 98 matches with the bat, Kallis scored 2427 runs at an average of 28.55 and with a strike rate of 109. With the ball, he picked up 65 wickets at an economy rate of 7.89 and with an average of 35.27.

4. Daniel Vettori

The former New Zealand captain was another success story in the Indian Premier League. In 34 matches, Vettori picked up 28 wickets but his economy rate of 6.78 was especially brilliant.

3. Matthew Hayden

The big burly Australian was probably born in a wrong era as his game was tailor-made for the crash, bang version of T20 cricket and when the IPL took off, the Queenslander was towards the fag end of his career, but this did not prevent him to stamp his authority over the league. In 32 matches, Hayden peeled off 1107 runs at an average of 36.9 and with a dominating strike-rate of 137.52.

2. Michael Hussey

He was critical for the Chennai Super Kings for several years and became almost synonymous with the yellow jersey. He shifted sides and turned out for the Mumbai Indians towards the end of his career. In 59 matches, he scored 1977 runs at an average of 38.76 and with a strike rate of 122.24.

1. Kumar Sangakkara

Sangakkara has played in seven seasons of the Indian Premier League. He was the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Charges team. Sangakkara has scored 1567 runs with 10 half-centuries in 62 matches in IPL.