IPL deep-dive: Five overseas players who never played in IPL, but could have been stars if they were Indians

Right before the IPL 2026, in the second episode of IPL Deep Dive, we at OTTplay discuss the 5 international overseas players who could have been an IPL star if they were Indians.

These players could have been stars in the IPL if they were Indians.

Since its beginning in 2008, the Indian Premier League has been the biggest cricketing league in the world. Its success was not solely due to the entertainment and platform it gave to young cricketers. It was also because of how the league was able to mix Indian players and international stars in a single dressing room and create 'Dream teams'. The only limitation was that teams could only have four overseas players to prioritise the chances given to the young lot of Indian domestic stars. That is why a few international stars couldn't find a team or a place in the Indian Premier League despite being one of the stars of their countries in the shortest format of the game.

Today, in the second episode of IPL Deep Dive, we will discuss those five overseas players who never played in the IPL but could have easily played if they were Indians.

Please keep in mind that we have created the list among many eligible and deserving candidates. We made sure that we excluded Pakistani cricketers from the list because there was no chance of them playing in the league.

We have kept out a few international stars who either were at the end of their career when IPL started or, most of the time, showed disinterest in playing in the league.

We have kept only those players who have been eager to be a part of the league and have kept themselves available and included themselves in the auctions every year during their time as a player.

1. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK, Bangladesh)

Now, this is my own personal opinion. I feel Mushfiqur Rahim could have easily played 10 years in the IPL if he was Indian.

Just because you could only have four overseas players in a single team, IPL teams always liked to have only two or three options in their squad when it came to donning the gloves behind the wicket.

And more often than not, teams wanted to have someone from India to play that role. Or if you are not an Indian, there are only two options:

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter who has scored 6248 T20 runs, was one of the best players of spin bowling attacks. He could have easily played in the league, but since teams looked for a bigger package when it comes to an overseas star, Rahim could not find a place in the league.

2. Paul Stirling (Opening batter, Ireland)

Former Ireland captain Paul Stirling also could have been in any IPL playing XI if he was Indian.

Sterling was an aggressive, fearless opener who decimated bowling attacks globally and played in most of the leagues around the world.

He's one of the leading run-scorers in T20I history with 3,895 runs and a career strike rate of 134.35, suggesting he could have easily been one of the stars in the IPL if he was Indian.

But again, since teams looked for a whole package or a bigger star when it came to selecting their overseas picks, Sterling missed out on being an IPL player. Not to forget, Stirling scored 9,074 T20 runs with a strike rate of 140.92.

Read also: IPL deep-dive: Underrated XI of IPL history; Balaji, Marsh, Yusuf, Rayudu and who else?

3. Graeme Swann (Spin bowling all-rounder, England)

I know that off-spinners are not in demand by IPL teams at the moment. Teams tend to go after mystery spinners who bring a lot of variations to their bowling lineup.

But once, when we had genuine off-spinners playing in the Indian Premier League, I am not sure how and why Graeme Swann missed playing in the biggest cricket league in the world.

Swann took 51 T20Is at an average of 16.84 and an economy of 6.36. Not only that, his T20 record of 98 wickets with an economy rate of 6.56 makes him one of the unluckiest overseas players to never play for an IPL team.

Along with his bowling acumen, his career T20 batting strike rate of 135.91 could have come in handy as well.

Read also: IPL 2026 jersey guide: Where to buy jersey of each team, prices, and new kit designs.

4. Kevin O'Brien (Batting all-rounder, Ireland)

Who could forget that night in Bangalore during the 2011 ODI World Cup when Kevin O'Brien, a young Irishman, took on two English bowlers and helped Ireland create history by defeating England?

However, despite being one of the youngest prospects in world cricket and a talented all-rounder, Kevin O'Brien never got to feature in the Indian Premier League, just like his fellow teammate, Paul Stirling.

From 2009 to 2013, Kevin O'Brien appeared in multiple IPL auctions, but not a single team showed interest in him.

Kevin finished his career with 4,577 T20 runs with a strike rate of 134.41, which included two hundreds as well. Not only that, he even took 121 T20 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65.

But again, since teams looked for stars like Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Albie Morkel, and Dwayne Bravo when it came to all-rounders, Kevin missed out on fulfilling his IPL dream.

If he was an Indian, he could have easily been picked by any franchise and made a name for himself in the league.

Read also: IPL 2026: 5 debutants to watch out for in the upcoming season.

5. Reeza Hendricks (Opening batter, South Africa)

Another international star you would be shocked to know that he never played for any IPL team.

Reeza Hendricks, the South African opener who was associated with playing the long innings or an anchor role, would have been suitable for many IPL teams of the past if he was an Indian.

With 2,504 runs for South Africa, he is one of the highest run-getters in the shortest format of international cricket.

Although his strike rate of 129.20 speaks for his inability to find boundaries like other destructive openers, it is pretty sure that many Indian opening batters like him have played for more than ten years in IPL just because there was a lack of destructive Indian opening options back in the day, and you could only have four foreigners in the XI.

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