These 5 legends of cricket made their international debut even before the birth of their teammate

Cricket has witnessed several changes in the recent couple of years, earlier, there were no such variations and transformations in the game. Only two formats were in the practice including the traditional Test cricket and the newly introduced format in the second half of the 20^th century, ODI cricket.

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Whereas, in the recent few years or we can say from the last one and a half decades, T20 and T10 are the two formats that have brought an evolution in the game. The fans have seen the peak of the potential in players due to the formats of reduced overs. The franchise leagues and several tournaments have also given a stage to the veteran players to continue their careers even after their retirement from international cricket.

The list of former veterans appearing in these shorter formats includes the likes of Pravin Tambe, Imran Tahir, and former Pakistani skipper Shoaib Malik. All these legends have even grown more with their increasing age.

So, here we’ll have a look at five veterans who had made their debut in international cricket even before the birth of their younger teammates with whom they have played recently.

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Chris Gayle – 1999 (Debut)

League – PSL, Team – Quetta Gladiators, Teammate – Naseem Shah (Born in 2003)

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One of the most celebrated Caribbean cricketers who ever played the game, Chris Gayle kept entertaining fans with his brilliant batting displays throughout his entire career. He has appeared in 413 T20 games till now, in these matches, Universe Boss has scored 13,691 runs. He is also considered the all-time great in the shortest format.

Gayle made his first appearance for West Indies in international cricket against India in a match in Canada’s Toronto. He played for the Quetta Gladiators of PSL back in the year of 2021. Notably, he was a part of the XI in which an 18-year-old Pakistani lad Naseem Shah was also included. Quetta was playing this match against Karachi.

Shah opened his eyes to this world on the 15^th of February 2003. So Gayle had already an experience of four years when the young pacer was even born.

Shahid Afridi – 1996 (Debut)

League – LPL, Team – Galle Gladiators, Teammate – Asitha Fernando (Born in 1997)

The dashing showman of Pakistan impressed and entertained the fans with his all-around skills on the field of cricket. The Khyber Agency-based prodigy Shahid Afridi played his first international match for Pakistan in the year of 1996. He was known for his explosive batting throughout his entire career.

The 42-year-old legend had also made his appearance in the Lanka Premier League during the season of 2020. He was in the team of Galle Gladiators for that season. Galle was facing Jaffna Stallions in the first match of the tournament. The Pakistani legend went on to play an important knock of 58 runs. He was also the captain of the team.

But apart from this, the fact that drew attention was that one of the members in Galles’s playing XI, Asitha Fernando was of an age that was smaller than Shahid Afridi’s international cricket career. Fernando was born in 1997 whereas Afridi made it to international cricket one year before in 1996.

Sachin Tendulkar – 1989 (Debut)

League – Indian T20 League, Team – Mumbai, Teammate – Jasprit Bumrah (Born in 1993).

One of the all-time great batters who ever played the game in history, is Sachin Tendulkar. The legend has smashed 18,426 runs in the ODI format alongside 15,921 runs in the longest format of the game. The 48-year-old had also played for Mumbai in some earlier seasons of the Indian T20 League.

In the sixth season of the league in 2013, Mumbai was playing against Bangalore in the inaugural match of the tournament. Skipper Ricky Ponting included the then 20-year-old young pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI. Whereas, Sachin was also in this same playing XI. Notably, Bumrah was born after Sachin spent four years in international cricket.

Yuvraj Singh – 2000 (Debut)

League – Indian T20 League, Team – Punjab, Teammate – Mujeeb ur  Rahman (Born in 2001).

Yuvraj has played for a couple of teams in the Indian T20 League. He was appointed as the captain of Punjab in the inaugural season of the league. Later on, the franchise released him ahead of the 2011 season of the league where the Pune-based franchise picked him in their team. Although, Punjab again went on to sign Yuvraj Singh for the 2018 season of the Indian T20 League.

He couldn’t impress the management and fans with his performances but there was another feat he achieved in that season. Actually, the Afghan cricketer Mujeeb ur Rahman was in the playing XI along with the star Indian all-rounder. Mujeeb was born in 2001 when Yuvraj had already spent a year in international cricket.

Parthiv Patel – 2002, August (Debut)

League – Indian T20 League, Team – Bangalore, Teammate – Prayas Ray Barman (Born in October 2002)

All cricket experts and fans were in shock when the Bangalore-based franchise picked the young leg spinner Prayas Ray Barman during the auction for the season of 2019. The young lad played his first match in the Indian T20 League against Hyderabad. It was the very match in which Prayas and Parthiv played in one playing XI.

Actually, Prayas Ray Barman was born in the month of October in 2002 whereas Parthiv had already made his international debut two months back in the month of August in the same year.