5 Cricketers who defy their age

Cricket or any sport for that matter has become more varied when it comes to players’ age. With a better diet, good workout regimes and better skin care many cricketers remain in top shape even when in their late 30s.

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This diversity often brings out some players whose face does not correlate with their age. Let’s look at five cricketers who do not look like their age.

1. Rashid Khan, 23

Rashid Khan (Image source: Twitter)

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Rashid Khan was named the Men’s T20 player of the decade in 2020 on the back of his sensational performance in the Indian T20 League and for his national side.

At 23 years old the spinner has already achieved massive feats in his cricketing career. He has however often been the subject of discussion around his age. As more of his older picture resurface the claim that he is older than his age becomes more sound.

2. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 21

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Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Image source: Twitter)

Another Afghanistan player graces this list with his perceived age difference. Rahman is 21 years old according to his official birthdate, but the Afghanistan right-arm off-break bowler looks a bit older than 21.

In 52 ODI matches, the spinner has taken 79 wickets for his country in addition to 32 in 23 T20Is. He has also played 19 Indian T20 League matches where he took 19 wickers.

3. Ashley Nurse, 33

Ashley Nurse (Image source: Twitter)

The West Indies bowler Ashley Nurse is 33 years old according to his official age but does not look it. Having made his debut in 2016, the West Indies cricketer has always looked in his late 30s or early 40s.

In his 54-match ODI career Nurse has taken 49 wickets with eight more in 13 T20I matches for his national side.

4. Mohammad Shami, 31

Mohammad Shami (Image source: Twitter)

Some say that Mohammad Shami has the best seam position for any bowler, but some also say that he looks older than his official age of 31. When you put him with Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli, who are all older than Shami, the pacer's age seems questionable.

When it comes to his performance, however, there are no opposing questions from any. The pacer is among the first names on the teamsheet for India at the moment. In 82 ODI matches, he has taken 152 wickets in addition to 216 in 60 Test matches.

5. Kagiso Rabada, 27

Kagiso Rabada (Image source: Twitter)

Called the baby-faced assassin, Kagiso Rabada is quite an anomaly on this list. The South African pacer celebrated his 27th birthday in May 2022 but could pass for a 20-year-old as well. This cricketer's age seems to have stopped in his late teens.

It is his bowling however that tells you all about his maturity and experience. He has played more than 200 matches for South Africa so far. In 52 Test matches, the right-arm pacer has taken 243 wickets in addition to his 132 in ODIs and 52 in T20Is. Rabada has just one wicket shy of his 100 in the Indian T20 League.