5 Australian players you didn't know were once in IPL

Australia is synonymous with the word cricket. The most successful nation in international cricket, Australia are the proud owners of the greatest player of all time - Don Bradman.

Ever since then, they have produced numerous stars who have gone on to become world beaters and even taken their services to Indian shores to participate in the lucrative Indian premier league.

While fans obviously remember the likes of Hussey, Ponting and Warne plying their trade in the IPL, there were numerous others who always flew under the radar.

Here are five Australian players you didn't know were once in the IPL:

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Phillip Hughes

The late Australian was once in the Indian Premier League. Mumbai Indians bought him in the 2013 auction but he did not play a single game for them.

Harbhajan Singh described the Aussie was a fun loving guy who learnt Hindi to know what was happening in the dressing room. "He spoke decent Hindi like namaste, kaise ho, kidhar ja rahe ho. He learnt the language so that he could communicate better and understand what is being discussed in the dressing room. He was a fun-loving guy," said the current CSK man.

In November 2014, Hughes was struck on his head by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a Sheffield Shield game and collapsed face-first. He was placed in an induced coma but passed away after he failed to regain consciousness.

Justin Langer

Sheffield Shield - Bushrangers v Warriors: Day 1

The left-handed opener was signed by Rajasthan Royals for $200,000 in the 2008 auctions. However, he was never in the matchday squad for the whole season.

He was finally named in the squad for their match vs Mumbai Indian on 21st April 2009, but the game was washed out without a ball being bowled.

He did play one game for the Royals but that was not in the Indian Premier League. It came in the Twenty Twenty British Asian Challenge – a charity game where the champions of IPL took on the champions of 2008 Twenty20 Cup.

He scored just one run in that game and got out on the 2nd ball.

Damien Martyn

V.B. Series, Australia vs South, Day Night match

Damien Martyn retired from International cricket in 2006 – 2 years before IPL began. Despite this, Rajasthan Royals decided to sign him up in the 2010 auction, ie, 4 years after he retired.

He was signed for $100,000 and he played just one game for them. RR then cut short their squad to 19 players and he was chucked out.

Announcing his departure, Martyn wrote on his blog: "By the time you read this I'll be heading home. The Rajasthan Royals squad has been trimmed to 19 players and it looks like allrounder Shane Watson might join us next week.

"That's the nature of professional cricket and I knew from the start what my role in the squad was and how this might happen."

Nathan Bracken

Group A Australia v Scotland - Cricket World Cup 2007

Nathan Bracken was a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the first two editions of the IPL. RCB bought him for $325,000 – the same amount they paid to sign Dale Steyn in the same auction (2008).

The Aussie fast bowler never got a chance to play. He was always ruled out due to his injury and the IPL side decided to release him after the 2009 season.

He could have been the x-factor for the Bangalore side in their 2nd campaign when they finished runners-up.

Darren Lehmann

Australia v England - Game 1

Darren Lehmann was signed by Rajasthan Royals as a cover for Graeme Smith. The Aussie was in the side for 2 games and played both of them.

He scored just 1 run in the first game vs Delhi Daredevils after coming in at 41/3. In the 2nd game, Lehmann scored 17 off 16 balls to help RR win vs Kings XI Punjab.

He became the coach of Deccan Chargers in the next season and won the title with them.