5 Most Loyal Players In IPL: Kieron Pollard’s retirement from IPL signals an end of an era. The big burly allrounder made his IPL debut in 2010 with the Mumbai Indians. He has been an integral part of the side ever since. There were speculations around MI releasing Pollard ahead of the mini-auction.

Pollard in an act of absolute loyalty decided to hang up his boots. He chose to quit the league rather than turn up against Mumbai. There are only a select few players who have played for just a single franchise. 

We look at 5 Most Loyal Players In IPL: [Min – 100 games]

#5 Jasprit Bumrah – 120 games

There is something about Mumbai Indians that three of the top 5 loyal players belong to this franchise. Jasprit Bumrah is arguably one of MI’s biggest matchwinners. He made his IPL debut in 2013 prizing out Virat Kohli as his maiden IPL wicket. Bumrah since then has gone from strength to strength. He has been part of MI’s golden generation who won 5 IPL titles in 8 years. Bumrah has played 120 games so far all for MI.

#4 Lasith Malinga – 122 games

If the protege occupies the fifth spot then it’s the master at the number four spot. Lasith Malinga is IPL’s greatest fast bowler of all time. He was unplayable during his peak which lasted for a good 6-7 seasons. Malinga ended his career on a spectacular high winning the title for MI in 2019 with his last ball. The Lankan pacer has played all of his 122 games for MI since making his debut in 2009.

#3 Sunil Narine – 148 games

He is the best spin bowler in IPL history. There is little to argue over this fact as Sunil Narine is the only spin bowler to win the MVP twice in IPL. Narine debuted for KKR in 2012, the year they were crowned champions. He played a key role in KKR’s second win in 2014 too. Narine has donned many roles for KKR in the IPL.

He has opened the batting, he has been a pinch-hitter. There is very little that Narine hasn’t done at KKR. He has played 148 games for KKR in the IPL. The West Indian hasn’t represented any other IPL franchise.

#2 Kieron Pollard – 189 games

Mumbai Indians broke the bank in 2010 to acquire Kieron Pollard. The move paid immediate dividends as Pollard nearly won MI the IPL in 2010. He has been one of the most valuable players in IPL history leave alone MI.

Pollard has staged many heists for his side. He reinvented himself in 2019 to conjure up magic. Pollard played starring roles in MI’s 5 IPL-winning campaigns. He played 189 games for MI. Pollard decided to hang up his boots as he was deemed surplus to the requirement. 

#1 Virat Kohli – 223 games

If there is one cricketer who embodies loyalty in IPL then he is Virat Kohli. The biggest brand in world cricket could have created ruffles in every single auction had he chosen to value his stocks. But Kohli, a staunch loyalist has always made it clear that it is with RCB that he will be associated forever.

RCB was the team that picked a young Kohli in 2008. Kohli has since then gone on to become the highest run-scorer in IPL. He is synonymous with RCB having played all of his 223 games for the franchise. There is no Kohli without RCB and no RCB without Kohli.