Mumbai: Rohit Sharma etched his name further into Indian Premier League history on Sunday, becoming the first capped player to feature in all 19 editions of the world's premier T20 tournament.
The milestone was officially reached when the veteran opener took the field for the Mumbai Indians in their 2026 season opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium. While other stalwarts like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have also appeared in every season since the league's 2008 inception, Sharma holds the unique distinction of having entered the inaugural tournament as a capped international player.
A Legacy of Longevity
Sharma's journey began with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2008, shortly after he played a pivotal role in India's T20 World Cup victory in 2007. Unlike his contemporaries, who started their IPL careers as uncapped domestic players, Sharma arrived as an established international star.
His 19th season appearance underscores a career defined by remarkable consistency. Entering Sunday's contest, the 38-year-old remained the only player in league history to have surpassed the 200-run mark in each of the previous 18 seasons.
Chasing Further Milestones
Beyond his longevity, Sharma continues to climb the all-time statistical leaderboards. He currently sits as the second-highest run-scorer in IPL history, trailing only Virat Kohli, and is also just the second player to cross the 300-six mark in the tournament.
With six IPL titles to his name-five as captain of Mumbai and one as a player with Deccan-Sharma remains the most successful individual in the competition's history.