The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a top cricket tournament in the last 13 years. The 14th edition of the league will resume on September 19 with a battle between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. Since it is the Indian Premier League, obviously the tournament features a majority of the Indian cricketers.
In each IPL team’s playing XI, the rule is that there should be a minimum of seven Indian cricketers. There are four overseas slots in an IPL playing XI, but teams can even pick less than that. Quite a few cricketers from Australia, South Africa, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and even Pakistan have been a part of this competition.
However, there have been five countries so far in the history of the league from where only one cricketer has been able to gain an IPL contract. Here’s a list of five such countries and the names of the players.
1. Only Nepalese cricketer in Indian Premier League history – Sandeep Lamichhane
Nepal is emerging as one of the top cricketing nations in Asia. When the IPL began, nobody would have imagined that a player from Nepal will be a part of the Indian Premier League one day. But leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane made history in the year 2018.
The Delhi Daredevils signed him at the IPL Auction in 2018 and made him the first player from his country to participate in the league. Sandeep played nine matches for the Delhi-based franchise, scalping 13 wickets. However, Delhi released him in the year 2020.
2. USA – Ali Khan
The United States of America have been focusing a lot on the sport of cricket now. There have been reports claiming that cricket could be a part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Hosts USA will be keen to field a strong team in that competition if cricket makes it to the Olympics.
Quite a few cricketers born outside USA have joined the USA team now. One of them is Ali Khan, who also received a contract from the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020. However, Khan could not make his debut.
3. UAE – Chirag Suri
The Gujarat Lions played for two seasons in the Indian Premier League. They joined the competition in 2016 along with the Rising Pune Supergiant as temporary replacements for the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals. They stayed in the competition until 2017.
At the 2017 IPL Auction, the Rajkot-based franchise raised a few eyebrows by signing Chirag Suri as an overseas player. He is a player from the United Arab Emirates. He did not play a single game, but to date, he is the only Emirati cricketer to have played in the IPL.
4. Kenya – Tanmay Mishra
Tanmay Mishra played international cricket for Kenya. However, he had an Indian passport that allowed him to play in the Indian Premier League as a local player. The Deccan Chargers signed him in 2012, and he made his debut against the Rajasthan Royals.
Mishra lost his place in the Deccan Chargers playing XI after the match. He earned a contract from the Royal Challengers Bangalore later, but that appearance for DC proved to be his only one in the IPL.
5. Only Dutch cricketer in Indian Premier League history – Ryan ten Doeschate
The Netherlands have been improving gradually as a cricketing nation. They have produced some top-quality players, and one of them is all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate.
Unlike the previous four names on this list, ten Doeschate has won the IPL tournament. He played for the Kolkata Knight Riders and won in 2012 and 2014.
