Cricket has undergone significant transformation in the past few years. Test and ODI cricket used to be the only variants of this game, but T20 and T10 have become popular in recent years. The shorter format brings stellar entertainment to the fans, making matches swift and allowing veteran players to extend their careers. Here’s a list of 5 players who have already made their International debut.
5. Chris Gayle – debut in 1999, played with Naseem Shah – born in 2003
Gayle started his international career in 1999 when he faced off against Team India. Recently, he has been playing for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League 2021. Amazingly, Gayle and Naseem Shah were included in the same Gladiators’ XI for their match against the Karachi Kings.
4. Shahid Afridi – debut in 1996 – played with Asitha Fernando – born in 1997
In LPL 2020, Shahid Afridi led the Galle Gladiators to the final match, where they, unfortunately, bowed out to the Jaffna Stallions. On the Gladiator’s side, Afridi was joined by teenage Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando, born in 1997. During the two teams’ first meeting, Afridi produced a breathtaking 58-run display for his team.
3. Sachin Tendulkar – debut in 1989 played with Jasprit Bumrah – born in 1993
Born in 1993, the right-arm fast bowler Bumrah is one of the premier pacers in world cricket. Despite being born four years after Sachin Tendulkar’s international debut, Bumrah had the immense honor of playing alongside the great cricketer. In this year’s IPL 2021, Bumrah will share the pitch with Sachin’s son Arjun Tendulkar.
2. Yuvraj Singh – debut in 2000 played with Mujeeb ur Rahman – born in 2001
Yuvraj Singh, an Indian all-rounder who debuted in 2000, found himself in the same playing XI as Mujeeb ur Rahman, born in 2001, for a match against the Delhi Capitals. The Afghanistan leg-spinner went on to take two wickets in that game. It is remarkable that when Yuvraj began his international career, the Afghanistan Cricket Board was not yet an affiliate of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
1. Parthiv Patel – debut in August 2002 played with Prayas Ray Barman – born in October 2002
The Royal Challengers Bangalore caused a stir among many supporters when they bid for the teenage leg-spinner Prayas Ray Barman during the IPL 2019 auction. Barman, both a bowler and an all-rounder, debuted his IPL against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. His first match saw him in the same XI as Parthiv Patel, who had debuted with India’s national team in August 2002 – two months before Prayas was born!
