IPL 2018: 3 Zimbabwean players who were once a part of the IPL

April 18, 2008, the day that changed the landscape of the world cricket forever. Indian Premier League just turned 10-years old last month. From that particular day, the months of April-May have become like the ‘summer festival’ for most of the Indians. Players all around the world gather over a period of 7-8 weeks for this spectacle.

IPL provides the platform for young uncapped Indian players to rub shoulders with the world’s best cricketers. Everybody loves the David vs. Goliath story. That is the reason why fans are delighted to see some unknown players from Afghanistan dominating the world’s richest league.

Similar to Afghanistan, there exists a nation called Zimbabwe, which was the Afghanistan of the early 2000s. With Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in crisis, let us look at some of their great times specifically their association with the Indian Premier League. So far, only three Zimbabwe players had featured in the cash-rich league. Let us look at them one by one.

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#1 Tatenda Taibu

Tatenda Taibu was the first Zimbabwe player to feature in the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for a sum of USD 125,000 in the inaugural season. Since Brendon McCullum was the other wicket-keeper batsman in the squad, Taibu did not get enough opportunities.

Taibu started for KKR in just three IPL games. In those three matches, Taibu could manage only 31 runs with the strike rate of 119.23.

As a result, KKR released Taibu ahead of the 2009 IPL auction. After the inaugural season, Taibu even struggled to get shortlisted for the IPL auction.

Since Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, the Board of Directors of Zimbabwe Cricket has terminated the contract of Taibu as the selection panel convener.

#2 Ray Price

Ray Price made his IPL debut against KKR

Mumbai Indians signed Ray Price as a replacement for the injured Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques.

Mumbai bought him at his base price of USD 50,000 as he went unsold in the original IPL auction. Price became the second Zimbabwean to play in the IPL.

Price made his IPL debut against Kolkata Knight Riders in the last league match of the 2011 season.

He conceded 33 runs in his three overs without picking a single wicket. Unfortunately, this match remains his only IPL appearance.

The left arm spinner announced his retirement at the age of 37 during the middle of ODI series against India in 2013.

#3 Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor is considered to be one of the best Zimbabwean players of all time

Brendan Taylor has already stamped his authority as the best Zimbabwe player of the past decade.

His heroics against Australia in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup will still etch in the memory of hardcore Zimbabwe fans. His extraordinary form in the 2015 ICC World Cup is a testament to his greatness.

Taylor was the third and the last player to feature in the IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him at his base price of INR 30 Lakhs in the 2014 IPL auction.

However, Taylor failed to find a spot in the playing XI for the entire season. SRH released him ahead of the 2015 season.

Unfortunately, Taylor did not attract any bidders from the 2015 player auctions.

Recently, Taylor returned to Zimbabwe cricket after a two-year county stint with Nottinghamshire.

However, Taylor could not replicate his previous heroics as Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

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