IPL 2018: Players separated from their long-term teams

2018 was expected to cause a major stir in the Indian Premier League. Ten years of the glamorous league had been played out and fresh auctions were to be conducted for the eleventh season. After a lot of deliberation, it was decided that each team would be allowed to retain a certain number of players.

Nevertheless, the 2018 auction saw one of the biggest shake-ups in the history of the league as some big names were separated from their long-term franchise.

Let us take a look at five players who were with the same franchise for a long duration of time only to be drafted into a new one for the upcoming season.

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#5 Chris Gayle

When the words 'Chris Gayle' are uttered in India, the big man in red and gold hitting a majestic six into the electric crowd at Chinnaswamy comes to mind. Such has been his contribution to the Bangalore franchise that it is hard to recollect Gayle wearing the black and gold of the Knight Riders.

The West Indian joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 as a replacement for injured Dirk Nannes. This 'replacement' turned out to be the most destructive force in IPL history. It was a story written in the stars.

Which other man could plunder 175 runs in 66 balls? In what was an unbelievable transformation, Gayle went on to win two consecutive orange caps in 2011 and 2012, and finish second highest run-getter in 2013.

The big man has scored five scintillating centuries and has produced so many more memorable knocks. He has always kept the Chinnaswamy crowd up on their feet.

Gayle will now feature for the Kings XI Punjab and RCB fans are already dreading it. They can't imagine the big man play in any colour apart from their characteristic red and gold.

#4 Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir will be hoping to lead the Delhi Daredevils to victory this year

Though Gautam Gambhir played for his home franchise, Delhi Daredevils, in the first three seasons, he created a huge impact with Kolkata Knight Riders. He played for the black and gold franchise from 2011 to 2017, during which he captained them to two IPL titles. Many even go so far as to say that Gambhir found his true home in Kolkata.

However, after a reported fall-out with the Knight Riders management, the veteran southpaw makes his way back to what he calls his true home, Delhi. With age not on his side, Gauti will be looking to captain his home side to an IPL title this season.

#3 Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has been an unsung hero in Mumbai's middle order

Ambati Rayudu has been an unsung hero in the Mumbai Indians' vast success over the years. Rayudu joined Mumbai Indians in 2010 and was spectacular for them as they finished runners-up to Chennai Super Kings, which is coincidentally his new franchise.

Rayudu has been a part of countless crucial partnerships, especially with Kieron Pollard. He has amassed close to 2500 runs in blue and has never played for any other franchise. It will hurt the Mumbai Indians to see their loyal middle order batsman feature for their arch rivals, Chennai Super Kings.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

It will be strange to see Chennai-born Ashwin lead the Kings XI Punjab

Ravichandran played for Chennai Super Kings from 2009 until 2015, the year the franchise was slapped with a two-year ban. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, home-boy Ashwin was one of the faces of the Chennai Super Kings in their era of dominance.

Ashwin was a regular feature in the Super Kings starting eleven and played a pivotal role in their incredibly successful history in the IPL.

MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were the key forces in the Super Kings squad over the years and though the Super Kings managed to hold on to the former three, they couldn't outbid the Kings XI Punjab to retain Ashwin's services.

#1 Harbhajan Singh

After ten seasons with the Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan Singh will feature for the Chennai Super Kings this year

Just as Chennai-born Ravichandran Ashwin makes his way to the Kings XI Punjab, Jalandhar-born Harbhajan Singh does exactly the opposite as he joins the Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai Indians fans are having a hard time digesting the fact that Harbhajan will now feature in Chennai's yellow jersey. The "Turbanator" has been an integral part of the Mumbai side from the very first season of the IPL.

He even captained the Mumbai Indians to their first Champions League Twenty20 trophy back in 2011. He was the man-of-the-match in the final and emulated this feat again in 2013 in Mumbai's second CLT20 win.

He was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians squad in their three title-winning seasons as well. Bhajji is the only player to have played for Mumbai across all ten seasons, and it's going to be strange seeing him in yellow rather than blue in the 2018 edition of the IPL.