Oldest players to take a five-wicket haul in IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed many big performances from the players who were past 35 or even 40 in the age. However, most of them came in the batting department only as quite a few cricketers struck fifties after turning 40 and a couple of them smashed centuries despite being close to 40. However, across the first 12 editions of IPL, there have been as many as 20 five-wicket hauls recorded but only four by the players after turning 30.
Here are the 5-wicket hauls in the IPL by the players aged over 30:
Andrew Tye – 30 years and 123 days
Andrew Tye made his IPL debut in the 2017 edition for Gujarat Lions against the Rising Pune Supergiant. The Australian pacer was already 30 years and 123 days old by the time of his debut. However, he made most of the opportunity he got by picking up a 5-wicket haul conceding just 17 runs. His fifer played a big role in restricting RPS to 171/8 who were cruising at 60/1 in five overs before his arrival. Tye concluded the innings with a hat-trick.
Harbhajan Singh – 30 years and 293 days
Straight after the 2011 CWC triumph, Harbhajan Singh took his maiden IPL 5-wicket haul while playing at the Wankhede Stadium against his Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. The MI spinner took 5/18 to help the hosts to seal an 8-run win despite S Badrinath’s unbeaten 48-ball 71. Bhajji’s 5-wicket haul included three wickets that came in his last over when CSK needed 30 from 18 balls with five wickets in hand.
Dimitri Mascarenhas – 34 years and 164 days
Dimitri Mascarenhas is well known to the Indian fans for smashing Yuvraj Singh for five consecutive sixes a couple of weeks before Yuvraj smashed Stuart Broad six sixes in a row. The pace all-rounder represented Kings XI Punjab and even took a 5-wicket haul in the 2012 edition. Playing against the Pune Warriors India, Mascarenhas took 5/25 at the age of 34 years and 164 days. His fifer included the wickets of Sourav Ganguly, Marlon Samuels and Robin Uthappa.
Anil Kumble – 38 years and 183 days
Anil Kumble holds the record for being the oldest to take a 5-wicket haul in the IPL. Kumble was 38 years and 183 days old on the opening day of the 2009 edition where he picked up his maiden IPL 5-fer. Playing for RCB, the leg-spinner took 5/5 against the defending champions Rajasthan Royals who got bundled out for just 58 runs. As of today, Kumble’s bowling figures of 5/5 are still the best for an Indian in the IPL.
