IPL: Deccan Chargers squad in 2008 – Where are they now?

The Indian Premier League (IPL), the annual cricketing carnival in India was introduced in 2008 on the back of what was a successful T20 World Cup in 2007. India’s win in the same and the popularity of the shorter format of the game led to the tournament’s inception and also it’s huge fan-following. There were 8 teams in the first edition of the IPL and 7 of these are still contesting in the tournament.

The team that was terminated was the Deccan Chargers (DC) in 2012. But until then, they were a successful franchise. They won the title in 2009 after what was a disappointing inaugural season. They made way for another successful franchise from the same location – the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) who won the title in 2016.

DC finished last in the inaugural edition of the IPL despite boasting of some excellent talent. We take a look at the DC squad in the 2008 and what each player is up to now.

Shahid Afridi

Players from Pakistan were allowed to contest in the inaugural edition of the IPL and Shahid Afridi was one of those who looked to make a mark in the tournament. Despite the high expectations surrounding the all-rounder and with his game perfectly suited for the T20 format, Afridi flattered to deceive in the tournament. He returned just 9 wickets and scored only 81 runs.

Right now, the 45-year-old Afridi is taking part in the T20 leagues around the world like the Pakistan Super League, Lankan Premier League and Abu Dhabi T10 league after retiring from international cricket in 2018.

Sanjay Bangar

Sanjay Bangar was one of India’s most talented all-rounders who went under the radar. However, since the tournament was towards the end of his career, he couldn’t quite exert his influence on the same. He scored only 47 runs and could pick just 4 wickets in the 7 matches he was a part of.

Since retirement, Bangar has taken to coaching. He was most recently the batting coach of the Indian cricket team till the exit from the World Cup in 2019.

Halhadar Das

Halhadar Das is a wicket-keeper batsman who could only play one match in the 2008 edition of the IPL. This was owing to the fact that the team’s wicketkeeper was the legendary Adam Gilchrist. The then 22-year-old could only score 2 runs in the match that he played.

Das never played in the IPL after that but has represented the Odisha team in first-class cricket. Now however, he hasn’t found a place in the squad meaning his career might be over.

Doddapaneni Kalyankrishna

Doddapaneni Kalyankrishna is a bowling all-rounder who played three matches for DC in 2008. He even picked up the wickets of Kumar Sangakkara and Yusuf Pathan in the matches that he played. Due to his poor batting returns, Kalyankrishna was dropped from the side and never played in the IPL after that.

Kalyankrishna is currently a part of the coaching staff of Andhra Pradesh and can also be seen as a part of the Telugu commentary team for cricket matches.

David Paidikalva Vijaykumar

Paidikalva Vijaykumar played in 9 matches for the DC franchise and impressed with his bowling. He even picked up the wickets of Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag. After the edition of the IPL however, he never got a chance to play in the tournament again.

He has represented Andhra Pradesh in the domestic circuit since then and continues to do so at the age of 34.

Chamara Silva

Sri Lanka’s Chamara Silva represented DC in just 3 matches in the tournament and was unable to become a mainstay in the line-up due to the wealth of overseas talent. He scored just 43 runs and couldn’t pick up any wicket with his part-time leg breaks and was hence released from the side.

Silva continued to play for Sri Lanka after the IPL but his career came to an end after being found guilty of match-fixing in a domestic match.

Arjun Yadav

Arjun Yadav had a lot of hype surrounding him in the early 2000s as he was a part of the U-19 World Cup winning squad in 2000. Primarily a batsman, Yadav also bowled part-time off spin. For DC, he played in 8 matches and could only score 49 runs. He hasn’t been a part of the IPL since then.

Yadav was a mainstay in domestic cricket, having played over 80 first-class matches. He has taken up coaching after his playing career in domestic sides.

Nuwan Zoysa

Another Sri Lankan in the DC side, Nuwan Zoysa was a clever, left-arm pacer who played in just 3 matches for DC. Due to his poor economy rate and having picked just 2 wickets, he was dropped and hasn’t been seen in the tournament since then. However, for his national side, Zoysa has played in excess of 100 games and had a more than decent career.

After his playing career ended, Zoysa took up coaching and was a part of the Cricket Association of Goa before moving to the Fast Bowling Coaching Department of Sri Lanka.

Scott Styris

One of the most famous New Zealand cricketers of all time, Scott Styris represented DC both in 2008 where they finished last and 2009 where they won the trophy. Despite his reputation, Styris was unable to make a mark in the tournament and was hence released by the franchise in 2009. He then went on to represent the Chennai Super Kings franchise in 2011.

Styris retired from international cricket in 2011 and has since then, become a cricket expert and commentator. He can be seen covering the IPL as well as international matches.

Adam Gilchrist

Legendary Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist played a crucial role in helping the DC franchise recover from a lowly finish in 2008 to becoming champions in 2009. Gilchrist was one of the most consistent players and the go-to-man for the team. He represented DC till 2010 before being released and bought by Kings XI Punjab with whom he played till his retirement in 2013.

After his retirement, Gilchrist took up commentary and can now be seen as a part of the commentary team in Australia for India’s tour which is currently in progress.

Rohit Sharma

A young Rohit Sharma who had already represented India in the 2007 T20 World Cup was picked by the DC franchise and was one of the sole shining spot in the team. The right-hand batsman scored 4 half-centuries in the tournament and finished with a tally of 404 runs.

Since the tournament, Rohit has gone from strength to strength and become one of the greatest batsmen in world cricket. In the IPL as well, he has led his side Mumbai Indians to 4 titles to go along with the title in 2009 that he won for DC.

RP Singh

Indian left-arm pacer RP Singh was DC’s most successful bowler in the tournament’s history picking up wickets at will. In the 44 matches that he played for the franchise, the now 35-year-old picked up 54 wickets. He also won the Purple Cap in 2009 and played a key role in leading the side to title triumph.

Despite being just 35 years of age, RP Singh has retired from cricket and taken up commentary and cricket analysis in Hindi.

Andrew Symonds

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was another shining spot in the 2008 campaign for DC. Over the course of the three years he was a part of the side, Symonds scored 849 runs and picked up 19 wickets. He scored a century in the 2008 campaign as well but unfortunately for him, DC ended up on the losing side in the match. After his stint with DC, the all-rounder moved to Mumbai Indians where he ended his career.

After his retirement from cricket, Symonds has taken up commentary for Australian domestic matches.

Chaminda Vaas

One of the greatest swing-bowlers of all time, Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas was one of the three Sri Lankans who represented DC in 2008. He played in 13 matches for the side during his 3-year tenure and picked up 18 wickets. He wasn’t able to particularly light up the tournament but his performances were assured as always.

Following his retirement, Vaas took up coaching and has coached the Ireland national team as well as the Sri Lankan national team.

VVS Laxman

Indian batting icon VVS Laxman was the captain of the DC franchise in 2008 and despite his presence, the team faltered and came last in the edition. With the bat as well, Laxman disappointed and returned only 228 runs in the 19 matches that he played for the side. Laxman then went on to represent the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise in 2010 before his retirement.

After retirement, Laxman has taken up commentary and cricket analysis. He is also the mentor for the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise that replaced DC.

Venugopal Rao

Local boy Venugopal Rao was once considered to be a potential mainstay in the Indian national team and on that note, he was picked by DC in 2008. In the three years he was a part of the franchise, the batsman scored 498 runs. He was then released and picked up by the Delhi Daredevils before he ended his career with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. He also played 16 ODIs for India before the IPL.

Venugopal Rao has now become a politician and is a member of the Jana Sena party.

Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha is one of the most successful spinners in the history of the IPL. He picked up 62 wickets in 54 matches for his side and also won the Purple Cap in the 2010 edition. He went on to represent the Indian national team and the Mumbai Indians franchise but due to a suspect-action ban, his bowling abilities waned and he was never able to recreate the peaks he hit.

Ojha has taken to Hindi commentary now and works as an analyst.

Dwaraka Ravi Teja

Dwaraka Ravi Teja played just 30 matches for the DC franchise during his five-year stint with the franchise. Remarkably, the batsman was the only player who represented the franchise in all editions they were a part of. After the termination of the DC franchise, he was picked by their replacement, the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

After the 2013 edition, Ravi Teja hasn’t been a part of the IPL. He however, continues to represent Andhra Pradesh in the domestic circuit.

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