5 oldest debutants in IPL
Age is just a number they say and it has been proved as well in the world of sports. Youngest players making their debut for the country or for a franchise is a common thing but there are players who play at an older age too. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), many cricketers made their debut with their age being above 37 years.
Let’s take a look at the 5 oldest debutants in the IPL:
5.Darren Lehmann (38y 74d)
Former Australian international Darren Lehmann is the fifth oldest debutant in the IPL. He played just two matches in his IPL career and the games came for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the inaugural season in 2008 aged 38y 74d. The left-handed batter made his debut against Delhi Capitals in the team’s first match of that season. He ended up scoring just 18 runs in two matches at an average of 9.00.
4.Late Shane Warne (38y 219d)
Late Shane Warne was the fourth-oldest player to make his debut in the cash-rich league. The leg-spinner skippered the RR side to glory as they won the inaugural IPL season in what was a fairytale story. The legendary spin bowler made his debut against DC in that season aged 38y 219d. He took 57 wickets in 55 matches at an average of 25.39 in the IPL.
3.Sanath Jayasuriya (38y 295d)
Former Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya made his IPL debut aged 38y 295d for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the first season in 2008. He appeared in the team’s first game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and made 29 runs. Overall, the swashbuckling batter amassed 768 runs in 30 IPL matches at an average of 27.43 which included four fifties and a century.
2.Brad Hogg (41y 65d)
The left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg played in the IPL for the first time in the year 2012 aged 41y 65d). The former Aussie international represented RR and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in his career. He took 23 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 24.78 and a strike rate of 19.91. His economy rate was 7.47, including a four-wicket-haul. He last appeared in a game against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions side in 2016.
1.Pravin Tambe (41y 211d)
The leg-break bowler Pravin Tambe is the oldest debutant in the history of the IPL. He appeared in his first match aged 41y 211d for RR against Delhi Capitals in the 2013 season. In the 2016 auction, he was snapped up by Gujarat Lions and he ended his IPL career after playing 33 matches, picking up 28 wickets. He was one of the five RR bowlers to take a hat-trick in the tournament history.
