While injuries or other reasons may prevent some players from participating in the 2025 season, the current list reveals that nine players who were part of the first IPL season in 2008 are still active in 2025.
Such players have generally been much beloved by the fans and continue to have higher odds on betting sites for the IPL due to their seniority and experience.
Over the years, the number of such players has steadily declined. A few years ago, when this list was first compiled to mark IPL’s 10th anniversary, big names like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, and Wriddhiman Saha were still on it. Now, only nine names remain. Here's a look at who they are:
MS Dhoni: A name that needs no introduction. Dhoni has been with Chennai Super Kings since the very beginning, except for the 2016 and 2017 seasons when the team was suspended due to the 2013 betting scandal, during which he played for Rising Pune Supergiants. He returned to CSK in 2018.
Rohit Sharma: One of IPL’s biggest stars, Rohit Sharma began his IPL journey in the first season with Deccan Chargers. In 2011, he joined Mumbai Indians and has since become the face of the franchise, leading them to 5 IPL titles. He was also part of the Deccan Chargers when they won the 2009 title.
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli, who started his IPL career as an Under-19 cricketer in 2008, has remained with the Bangalore franchise throughout. He is the only player to have been part of a single franchise since the beginning. From a modest contract, Kohli has now set new records, both for his playing and his contracts.
Ajinkya Rahane: Though never in the limelight for his white-ball performances, Rahane made his IPL debut in 2008 with Mumbai Indians. Despite limited opportunities there, he made his mark with Rajasthan Royals. He also played for Rising Pune in 2016 and 2017 and returned to Rajasthan Royals in 2018. This season, he was even discussed as a potential captain for KKR.
Ravichandran Ashwin: Ashwin started his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in 2008, and by a stroke of luck, he returns to CSK for the 2025 season after moving across teams. His contributions to Chennai’s title victories have always been significant, and over the years, Ashwin has become a master of understanding and exploiting IPL conditions.
Manish Pandey: Not a major star, but Manish Pandey is undoubtedly an IPL veteran. He began his career with Mumbai Indians in 2008 and made history as the first Indian to score an IPL century. Over his career, he’s represented multiple franchises.
Ishant Sharma: Having played for Kings XI Punjab early in his IPL career, Ishant Sharma has since moved to various teams and is now with Gujarat Titans in the 2025 season. Despite the end of his international career, Ishant has focused on maintaining his fitness and is still competing in the IPL.
Ravindra Jadeja: Hard to believe, but Jadeja, who made his debut in IPL 2008 with Rajasthan Royals, is still playing. He played a key role in their title win, with Shane Warne famously calling him "an emerging superstar." While he gained greater fame with Chennai Super Kings, he has delivered match-winning performances for CSK, including in the 2023 final, where he struck the winning runs off the last two balls.
Swapnil Singh: One of the lesser-known names on this list, Swapnil Singh from Uttarakhand was part of Mumbai Indians in 2008. His inclusion came as part of the victorious 2008 U-19 World Cup team with Virat Kohli. While his career has had its ups and downs, he continues to play. These are the nine players who featured in IPL 2008 and are still active in the 2025 season. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve played every season in between. If we refine the list to include only those players who have been part of every IPL season since 2008 (even if they didn’t play), Swapnil Singh would no longer make the list of active players.