Steven Smith
A modern-day great with a voracious appetite for runs, Steven Smith has multiple World Cup medals. He was a key part of Australia's ODI victories in 2015 and 2023, and the T20 World Cup triumph in 2021. However, the coveted IPL trophy has consistently
eluded him. Smith has had a long and varied IPL career, representing several franchises including Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals. His closest brush with glory came in 2017 when he captained Rising Pune Supergiant to the final, only to lose by a single run in a heartbreaking finish against Mumbai Indians. Despite his undeniable class and leadership, the IPL title remains a notable absence in his otherwise glittering trophy cabinet.
Joe Root
One of England's finest-ever batsmen, Joe Root was instrumental in his country's historic 2019 ODI World Cup victory on home soil and was also a member of the 2022 T20 World Cup winning squad. A master of technique and temperament in the longer formats, Root's forays into the IPL have been limited. He made his debut for the Rajasthan Royals in 2023, but the franchise did not go on to win the title that year. Despite possessing the skills to adapt to any format, Root's IPL journey has been brief and, so far, has not culminated in lifting the trophy, making him a prominent World Cup winner yet to taste IPL success.
Kumar Sangakkara
A legend of Sri Lankan cricket, Kumar Sangakkara's elegant batting and sharp wicket-keeping graced the sport for years. He achieved the ultimate T20 prize by helping Sri Lanka win the 2014 T20 World Cup, playing a crucial role in the final. In the IPL, Sangakkara was a marquee player, turning out for Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, even captaining the sides. Despite his consistent run-scoring and leadership, none of the teams he represented managed to clinch the title during his tenure as a player. He has since found success as a coach and director of cricket for Rajasthan Royals, but the playing honour eluded him.
Mahela Jayawardene
Much like his close friend and teammate Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene was a pillar of Sri Lankan cricket and a member of the celebrated 2014 T20 World Cup winning squad. His IPL career as a player was extensive, featuring stints with Kings XI Punjab, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, and Delhi Daredevils, where he was known for his classy and inventive strokeplay. However, team success in the tournament remained out of his grasp as a player. In a fascinating turn of events, Jayawardene has become one of the most successful coaches in IPL history, guiding the Mumbai Indians to multiple championships, proving his T20 acumen is second to none, even if he doesn't have a player's medal to show for it.
Daren Sammy
The only captain to win two T20 World Cups, Daren Sammy is a bona fide legend of the shortest format. He led the West Indies to spectacular victories in 2012 and 2016 with his inspirational leadership and all-round contributions. His IPL journey, however, tells a different story. Sammy played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kings XI Punjab across several seasons. While he brought his characteristic flair and match-winning potential, he was never part of a squad that went all the way to win the tournament, making him a unique case of a two-time T20 world champion without an IPL title.
Stuart Broad
A giant of English cricket, renowned for his phenomenal Test career, Stuart Broad also has a T20 World Cup winner's medal from England's 2010 triumph in the Caribbean. His involvement with the IPL is a tale of what might have been. He was signed by the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2011 and was retained for the 2012 season. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from playing a single match in either of those seasons. He subsequently prioritised his international career, especially in Test cricket, and never featured in the IPL again, leaving him as a World Cup winner who never even took the field in India's premier T20 league.
