IPL History: Top 5 players to play for Hyderabad's franchises

#2 Adam Gilchrist, Deccan Chargers (2008-2010)

Adam Gilchrist in Deccan Chargers blues (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

If there ever was a tragic ending between a player and a franchise in IPL it has got to be Adam Gilchrist and the Deccan Chargers.

After drafting one of the most dominant teams during the inaugural IPL auction, Deccan Chargers were touted to be the favorites to win the title with a plethora of star players. Instead, they won just two games and ended up last in the points table. They did not win a single home game in 2008.

That prompted many changes by the management including the change in logo and team colors. But, the most important change came in the team leader. VVS Laxman who was the captain in 2008 was demoted and Gilchrist was named as the captain in 2009. That changed the fate of the franchise.

Gilly played a very key role in the success of the Deccan Chargers in 2009 season. Not only as a batsman but as a captain he helped keep the team together and win the tournament after finishing last in the previous season.

His performances not only earned him Player of the Tournament award in 2009 but also earned him fans for life in Hyderabad. He involved many fans and players together in social media during the days with a #kepke, an inside joke between the core players of Deccan Chargers.

#kepke https://t.co/hlYe33Kaot

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) May 24, 2018

But, as every good thing needs to come to an end, the partnership between Gilchrist and the Deccan Chargers has come to an abrupt end after the Cargers decided not the retain him after the 2010 season, which became contoversial at the time and also started the demise of one of the top franchises in the league.

Gilly, was and still is in the hearts of Hyderabad fans, his 35-ball-85 against Delhi Daredevils in 2009 semifinal wil never be forgotten.