Former Sri Lankan legend, Muttiah Muralitharan has named the one IPL franchise that he wished to pray for, ever since the first season. The most decorated bowler in the history of the game, Muttiah Muralitharan started his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings.
CSK splashed INR 4.5 crore to secure the services of the legendary bowler. He went on to play three seasons for the team from 2008 to 2010, picking up 40 wickets from 40 matches. In 2008, he helped the Super Kings make it to the final and in 2010, he helped the side win its first-ever IPL trophy.
In 2011, he was bought by now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala before being signed up by Royal Challengers Bangalore the next year. He eventually retired from IPL in 2014.
Muttiah Muralitharan Reveals The One IPL Club He ‘Prayed’ To Play For
“Captaincy is about respecting the captain, whoever it is. We have to go by his decision. I prayed that if I come to the IPL, I have to go to Chennai, as I thought there will be Chennai people in the team. So, at that time, there was a good rule, where local players had to be in the team,” Muttiah Muralitharan said.
“The first three years was the best of the years because we could speak in our own language. We were around 7-8 people and even VB sir (VB Chandrasekhar) was there who selected us. I have played even for Lanchashire for 6 to 7 years, but I’d say that Chennai Super Kings was the best franchise I have played for,” he added.
Muttiah Muralitharan Has Been The Most Successful Bowler In World Cricket
Muralitharan has been one of the greatest players ever to don the Sri Lankan jersey. He had an international career span of almost 20 years, and the veteran off-spinner hung his boots from all forms of cricket after the 2011 World Cup where Sri Lanka lost the final to India.
Murali had already retired from Test cricket in 2010 after picking his 800th and final wicket on 22 July 2010 from his final ball in his last Test match. Muralitharan holds the world record for the most wickets in both Test and one-day cricket.