5 classic white-ball finishes between England and India

When England and India clash in white-ball cricket, scripts are thrown out the window. They add to a rich history of dramatic, down-to-the-wire encounters.

From iconic modern chases to high-stakes tournament finals, matches between these nations routinely produce legendary finishes.

Here are five of the most unforgettable, heart-stopping limited-overs conclusions that cricket fans will never forget.

1. NatWest Series final (2002, Lord’s)

Chasing a mammoth 326 at the Home of Cricket felt impossible in 2002. When India slumped to 146-5, England looked completely out of reach. Enter young guns Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.

The duo launched a fearless, counterattacking 121-run partnership. Even after Yuvraj fell, Kaif anchored the tail with masterclass composure.

With just two balls to spare, India scrambled the winning runs, prompting captain Sourav Ganguly’s iconic, shirt-waving celebration on the Lord’s balcony.

2. World Cup tie (2011, Bengaluru)

This group-stage masterpiece remains one of the greatest World Cup games ever played. Andrew Strauss played the innings of his life, smashing 158 as England boldly chased India’s formidable 338.

A late-order collapse turned a comfortable English victory into a chaotic, final-over scramble.

With Needing 14 from the final over bowled by Munaf Patel, Graeme Swann and Ajmal Shahzad held their nerve, with Swann striking an early boundary before England secured a remarkable tie on 338.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

3. Champions Trophy final (2013, Birmingham)

Rain reduced this marquee final to a frantic 20-overs-a-side shootout. India scraped together a modest 129, and England looked primed for victory with Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara cruising. However, MS Dhoni’s tactical genius turned the tide.

Ishant Sharma struck twice in two balls, triggering a sudden, panicked English collapse. Needing six from the final ball, James Tredwell could only manage a single from Ravichandran Ashwin, sealing India’s five-run victory.

4. T20 World Cup semi-final (2022, Adelaide)

While not a traditional final-over thriller, this match was a masterclass in sheer, ruthless dominance. India posted a competitive 168, relying on a late surge from Hardik Pandya. What followed was an absolute demolition.

England openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales put on an unbeaten 170-run partnership, chasing down the target with four overs to spare. The flawless 10-wicket victory shocked Indian fans and propelled England directly toward the T20 World Cup trophy.

5. ODI series decider (2021, Pune)

The final match of this thrilling three-game series went right to the absolute limit. India set England a target of 330, but a disciplined bowling display left England reeling at 200-7. Sam Curran then played a heroic, lone-warrior innings, scoring an unbeaten 95 from number eight.

England dragged themselves to the final over needing 14 runs. Thangarasu Natarajan held his nerve brilliantly, repeatedly landing his yorkers to secure a seven-run victory. Curran finished undefeated with one of the greatest England knocks in a losing cause.

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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Next cab off the rank – 5 potential candidates to succeed Ben Stokes as England Test captain

Harry Brook is the clear frontrunner to replace Ben Stokes, who sent shockwaves through the cricketing world by announcing his sudden retirement from international duty. But is he the best candidate?

Finding the next leader for the red-ball side is the immediate priority for England’s management with the selectors at a fascinating crossroads – they must decide whether to choose an obvious successor or look toward a few inspired, left-field county choices to pilot the post-Bazball era.

Here are five candidates who could take over the mantle of England Test captain.

1. Harry Brook

The current Test vice-captain and limited-overs skipper is the natural heir to the throne. Having just masterminded a 4-0 T20I series sweep over world champions India, Brook has proven his tactical pragmatism and sharp cricketing mind.

Aside from leadership he is a generational batting phenom, averaging 53.05 in Test cricket and ranking among the very best in the world. Stokes has offered his “100 percent support” for his appointment.

The only hesitation is the immense burden of managing him across all three international formats. Regardless, he remains the favourite to succeed Stokes.

2. Joe Root

When Stokes was sidelined during the recent New Zealand series, England returned to their most experienced head. Root’s previous five-year tenure as captain ended under immense pressure, but he represents an ideal bridge or a stabilizing interim choice.

Aside from his leadership abilities Root is an absolute titan of the game, boasting over 14,000 Test runs and able to provide handy off-spin options.

Root would bring calm, professional authority, letting younger players focus purely on their cricket without tactical panic. But appointing Root would feel like a backward step and a short-term solution.

3. James Vince

A classic left-field selection, Vince has long been arguably the most accomplished and highly respected captain on the county circuit for several years. He has routinely guided Hampshire to domestic trophies with an astute tactical blueprint and an unflappable temperament.

Aside from being an excellent leader he possesses an elegant, top-order batting technique and remains a superb slip fielder.

Selecting Vince would mirror the famous historic appointment of Mike Brearley – picking a specialist leader whose primary skill is elite man-management and county-honed strategy.

It’s a time-honoured debate, do you pick your best XI and then appoint a captain from the resources available, or do you find the best leader and then build a team around them? Vince is old though and at 35-years-old, like Root, his time has probably passed.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

4. Keaton Jennings

Jennings has quietly built an exceptional leadership resume at Lancashire, proving himself to be an incredibly tough, resilient, and forward-thinking captain in first-class cricket.

Aside from his captaincy credentials he is also a gritty opening batter who knows exactly what it takes to grind out tough, long-form runs against the new ball.

England’s Test side has often struggled for top-order stability. Elevating an experienced, tactically sound opener could anchor both the batting lineup and the team culture.

And if there is one spot in the England Test side that remains up-for-grabs, it is who opens alongside Ben Duckett – Emilio Gay is the incumbent but did he do enough against New Zealand to stay there.

5. Tom Abell

The long-time heartbeat of Somerset, Abell is highly regarded across England for his selfless team-first ethic, aggressive captaincy style, and excellent communication skills.

A highly dependable middle-order batter and an athletic fielder who can also chip in with useful medium-pace overs, he is not quite a like-for-like replacement for Stokes, but he certainly wouldn’t be out of place in the space vacated by the former skipper.

Abell embodies the exact brand of “selfless” cricket that Stokes championed. Unlike the other left-field candidates mentioned on this list Abell has never been capped at international level.

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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The final boundary – navigating the delicate art of international retirement with Rohit Sharma

The recent England versus India One Day International series concluded amidst a whirlwind of speculation rather than celebration.

The dominant narrative did not centre on tactical masterclasses or bowling spells, but on a single looming question regarding Rohit Sharma’s future. When will India’s legendary former skipper walk away from the international crease?

This intense scrutiny brings into sharp focus the most complex psychological battle an elite athlete will ever face: the act of international retirement.

Knowing exactly when to step away from the highest level is a delicate art, balanced precariously between personal pride, athletic decline, and institutional pressure.

The speculation surrounding Rohit’s imminent retirement was quite possibly amplified by the recent retirement of Ben Stokes – a legend who called-time on his international career in the most unexpected of fashions little less than a month ago.

For the modern superstar, the most alluring option is to call it quits entirely on your own terms. Bowing out while still at the absolute peak of your powers ensures an untarnished legacy.

This approach requires immense self-awareness and a rare lack of vanity. We saw this perfectly executed by elite players who chose to leave the stage while the crowd was still begging for an encore, rather than waiting for the whispers of decline to grow into a roar.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

Leaving on top allows a player to control the narrative of their own career, cementing their status as an undefeated master of the game.

Conversely, a highly common path is the stubborn refusal to quit, simply keeping going until the selectors make the decision for you. Many fiercely competitive athletes possess a mindset that makes voluntary surrender impossible.

They believe that as long as they are physically capable, they should be available to serve their country. This can lead to a painful, drawn-out conclusion where a once-great player is dropped after a string of poor performances.

While critics view this as staying too long, for the player, it represents emptying the tank completely and leaving with no lingering questions of what if.

There were suggestions that this was the path Rohit Sharma was heading down as he tried valiantly to cling on long enough to make the team for ODI World Cup 2027.

He banged a century at Lord’s on Sunday however, so any suggestions that his form was failing may now have been exorcized.

Then there is the fairy tale ending, where a player strategically aligns their departure with a massive global landmark like a World Cup final. Winning a major trophy provides the ultimate emotional crescendo, allowing a cricketer to sign off in a blaze of glory.

Sachin Tendulkar famously iconicised this by transitioning away from formats after securing his lifelong dream of a World Cup title on home soil.

This method provides the perfect poetic bookend to a storied career, though it carries the massive risk of a flat ending if the team fails to qualify or perform in the tournament. Rohit and Virat Kohli both called time on their T20 careers after winning the World Cup.

Waiting until the love and enjoyment of the daily grind has completely gone is another internal metric, though many pundits argue this is far too late.

By the time a player feels genuine burnout, their training habits, dressing room presence, and statistical output have usually suffered for months. Elite sport is ruthless, and playing purely out of habit can damage a team’s cultural environment.

Similarly, staying on to chase specific personal records and individual milestones can alienate teammates. When a batsman delays retirement just to reach a specific century count, the collective team goal becomes secondary to individual statistical vanity.

Ultimately, there is no universal blueprint for the perfect exit. The right time to go is an entirely deeply personal intersection of physical capability, mental hunger, and tactical relevance.

Whether a player chooses the spectacular explosion of a championship finale or the quiet dignity of a pre-emptive press conference, the transition remains incredibly difficult.

As the cricketing world waits to see how Rohit Sharma will write his final chapter, we are reminded that leaving the international stage gracefully is often harder than mastering the game itself.

For most players it happens just once, although of course there are always exceptions to the rule – just ask Quinton de Kock.

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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Ali Bacher: Garry Sobers was a five-in-one player and didn’t believe in team talks and net practices

Former West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers died last week. Sobers was 89 years old.

He scored 8,092 runs in 93 Tests an average of 58 from 1954 to 1974. This included the sixth-highest individual score in the history of Test cricket – 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in 1958.

Sobers also took 235 Test cricket wickets at an average of 34.

“Garry, Garfield. I called him Garry. He certainly is the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. There can be no question about it,” former South Africa batsman and renowned cricket administrator Ali Bacher told The Biggest Man in Cricket.

Bacher and Sobers’ Test careers coincided for five years from 1965 to 1970.

“He was a five-in-one player – he bowled left-arm quick, left-arm medium, he bowled left-arm spin, he was a brilliant slip catcher and he was a majestic batsmen. He was a five-in-one package,” added Bacher.

“But he was pretty unique. He didn’t believe in team talks, net practices. He said he could play golf. He was a scratch golfer and he didn’t like a lot of sleep – he slept three to four hours, that’s all he needed. He was a unique genius. He was 89 and we had a very warm relationship with him.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

Four of Sobers’ 26 Test centuries were scored in Australia. He also hit 16 Test half-tons in Australia.

“Our tour to Australia was cancelled in 1971-72 and Donald Bradman was in charge there and he organised a Rest of the World XI against Australia,” continued Bacher.

“It was 1 January at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Garry got a duck in the first innings and got 254 in the second innings and Bradman writes that he’s almost certain that that batting performance was the best ever seen in Australia.

“He was a genius, Garry Sobers – a loveable person. Never made any money from cricket, loved his golf, he loved South Africans. He had a warm relationship with the late Tiger Lance.

“He came out here for our unification banquet, he was our guest of honour and I remember before the banquet, we had a special day in Soweto – it was warm and beautiful and I also invited Sunil Gavaskar for this important day.

“I got Garry to bowl spin to Sunil in the nets and the cameras were there and it went around the world and that was the change in South African cricket – he supported it and he loved South Africans.”

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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Next in line – The only 3 genuine contenders to succeed Brendon McCullum as England Test coach

After a brutal 4-1 Ashes drubbing in Australia and a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand, the England and Wales Cricket Board moved swiftly to dismantle the “Bazball” era.

While McCullum stays on to manage the white-ball teams, managing director Rob Key must act swiftly. Pakistan visits for three Tests from 19 August, and a home Ashes looms next summer.

With former skipper Ben Stokes suddenly retiring from international duty, the incoming coach faces an immediate rebuild alongside likely new captain Harry Brook. Here are the four primary candidates to take the reins.

1. Jonathan Trott

The former England batsman has rapidly built a strong reputation as an international tactician, most notably guiding Afghanistan through a highly competitive era.

Trott understands the unique psychological pressures of the England Test cricket dressing room and offers a grounded, technique-first counterweight to the previous regime.

He possesses an exceptional cricket brain, instils disciplined batting habits, and knows how to maximise the output of an underdog squad.

Conversely, he has never managed a true global powerhouse like England in the longest format. The immense British media scrutiny would test his management limits and present a completely different level of off-field pressure.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

2. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed “The Wall”, the Indian batting icon is available after successfully guiding India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and the 2023 World Test Championship final.

Dravid represents a complete philosophical shift from McCullum, prioritising ironclad defensive techniques, patience, and acute game awareness.

He commands immense universal respect, brings unparalleled technical mastery, and has a superb history of developing elite young talent.

The primary roadblock remains his personal lifestyle preferences; reports suggest Dravid has no desire to return to a gruelling, full-time international coaching calendar.

This hesitation might force the ECB to explore an unconventional part-time or flexible arrangement to secure his services.

3. Justin Langer

The gritty former Australian opener famously coached his home country to an emphatic Ashes victory before stepping down in 2022. Hiring an elite Australia rival would be a blockbuster statement of intent, bringing old-school toughness directly into the camp.

Langer excels at rebuilding culture from scratch, demanding peak physical fitness, absolute accountability, and an ultra-competitive edge. On the downside, appointing an Australian icon always carries an uncomfortable political edge for England fans.

His notoriously intense player-management style has also polarized dressing rooms in the past, meaning his authoritative approach could risk clashing with England’s senior players.

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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Records tumble at Lord’s as England win thriller against India

Records tumble at Lord’s as England win thriller against India

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Allan Donald: I could have played for England

Fast bowler Allan Donald played 72 and 1640 ODIs for South Africa from 1991 to 2003.

Donald spoke to the The Biggest Man in Cricket podcast about that run-out during the 1999 Cricket World Cup, potentially playing for England at the time and the rise of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.

Allan Donald: I could have played for England

“Yes, I remember bumping into Alan Lamb and Robin Smith and his brother Chris Smith,” Donald told The Biggest Man in Cricket podcast.

“We we at an event, had a beer together and Lamb dropped the thing and said, ‘South Africa’s not going to get any better, do you fancy playing for England?’

“The lights went off, of course you’re gullible back then and think, ‘Wow, what an opportunity’. That was in 1989 and I told Dr Ali Bacher, I have a lot of respect for Dr Bacher, I was honest and he said to me, ‘Allan, just wait, just wait 12 months. South Africa will be back, I can’t tell you when, but it will be’.

“And then in 1990 I got a call, I was playing county cricket, Dr Bacher is sitting at Lord’s and he said South Africa have just been voted back in and we are going to the Cricket World Cup in 1992 and that was it, mind was made up, a great moment.”

Allan Donald: I’m not here to judge what Lance Klusener did

“I’m not here to judge what Lance Klusener did, he did what he did, that was the right decision for him in that moment,” added Donald.

“The right decision for me in that moment was not to be run out the ball before, so when I saw it come over to me, I knew there were two very close fielders.

“So for me the decision was, there’s still two balls to go after this, but you’re in the crosshairs, but for me it made me think differently definitely as to how delicate you have to be to support players who have gone through that before or will do in the future. It was a pretty traumatic experience.”

Allan Donald on Kagiso Rabada: You always judge someone on his consistency

“I had the privilege of handing Kagiso his first cap at the Adelaide Oval in front of a massive crowd in his first T20I and he bowled absolute rockets that night,” continued Donald.

“For Shane Watson to come over and say, ‘This is a special talent’ – Kagiso was clocking 156 kilometres per hour. His fastest ball was recorded at 158, so that is a speed bracket. He looked natural. I saw Kagiso at the Under-19 World Cup under coach Ray Jennings and Ray said, ‘This guy is going to become box office’.

“He sometimes pops in to the Lions and comes to have a bowl. He plays the odd game for us, so when he does we really appreciate that, his leadership around the group, especially the youngsters who all gravitate to him and that’s what we wants.

“What an unbelievable character, what a bowler, what a performer, and you always judge someone on his consistency, and he has been just that and more.”

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Brilliant Root picks off India to set up decider

Brilliant Root picks off India to set up decider

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Brainless batting seals England’s fate as India win first ODI

Brainless batting seals England’s fate as India win first ODI

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Brendon McCullum’s Midas touch – 5 most successful Test debuts during his tenure

When Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took the reins of England’s Test side, they brought a radical scouting philosophy. Traditional county metrics were secondary to identifying raw attributes, mental fearlessness, and the capacity to adapt to a high-octane environment. While “Bazball” has seen its fair share of experimentation, it has also unearthed elite international match-winners who have transformed England into an often-terrifying red-ball outfit. The selection of James Rew to play in the recent second Test against New Zealand at The Oval marked the 20^th player to be handed a debut by McCullum.

Let’s take a moment to look at the five most successful Test debutants blooded under McCullum’s transformative management.

1. Harry Brook
   Harry Brook is the undisputed crown jewel of the McCullum scouting era. Making his debut against South Africa in late 2022, the Yorkshire phenom took to Test cricket with historic, unprecedented ease. Blending classical defensive technique with terrifying, modern T20 bat speed, Brook shattered records by becoming the fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced. His remarkable appetite for centuries in Pakistan, New Zealand, and at home during the Ashes established him as a generational pillar of England’s middle order. Now the number one ranked Test batsman in the world, it is impossible to argue that McCullum got this one wrong.
2. Gus Atkinson
   Drafted into the side to inject raw, high-velocity pace into a transitioning bowling attack, Gus Atkinson enjoyed a fairytale introduction to Test cricket. The Surrey speedster immediately hit his stride, combining a smooth, repeatable action with the lethal ability to extract steep bounce and late movement off the deck. His sensational multi-wicket hauls during his debut summer proved that McCullum’s eye for pure athletic potential could translate instantly into match-winning red-ball spells. Now a top ten ranked Test bowler, Atkinson has fully justified McCullum’s faith.
3. Jamie Smith
   Tasked with taking over the crucial wicketkeeper-batsman role, Jamie Smith emerged as an absolute revelation. He seamlessly embodied the aggressive intent demanded by the team’s hierarchy, transforming the lower-middle order into an explosive launchpad. Smith’s flawless glovework coupled with his capability to counterattack alongside the tail or anchor an innings under severe pressure quickly solidified his status as an indispensable all-rounder in the modern setup. Disappointing during the Ashes, Smith nevertheless averages 40.18 in Tests with a high score of 184*.
4. Shoaib Bashir
   Perhaps no selection epitomises the McCullum philosophy better than Shoaib Bashir. Picked out of relative obscurity based primarily on his high release point and a video clip of his spin rotation, the youngster was fast-tracked straight into the firing line. Despite limited first-class experience, Bashir repaid the management’s immense faith with stunning multi-wicket hauls on unforgiving subcontinent tracks. His quick tactical development proved that temperament outweighs raw statistics.
5. Tom Hartley
   Like his fellow spinner Bashir, Tom Hartley was thrown straight into the deep end during demanding away tours. His debut was a masterclass in psychological resilience; after being hit for a six off his very first ball in Test cricket, Hartley rebounded spectacularly to claim match-winning figures. His height, consistent trajectories, and valuable lower-order batting capabilities gave England a dynamic, multi-dimensional spinning option that perfectly matched the aggressive ethos of the team.

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England blow India away to wrap up T20 series with game to spare

England blow India away to wrap up T20 series with game to spare

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England humiliate woeful India with 125-run victory in third T20

England humiliate woeful India with 125-run victory in third T20

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England denied Lionesses moment after being humbled by Australia in T20 World Cup final

England denied Lionesses moment after being humbled by Australia in T20 World Cup final

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Jacob Bethell brilliance outshines India’s 15-year-old superstar

Jacob Bethell brilliance outshines India’s 15-year-old superstar

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Age is just a number – The 7 oldest batsmen to smash T20 tons

While Twenty20 cricket is often labelled a young man’s game given how is demands raw athleticism, there is still a place for wily veterans as these elder-statesman batters have shown – proving that timing, experience, and supreme fitness can defy the biological clock.

Scoring a century in the shortest format requires an intense burst of energy and high-speed boundary-striking. When batsmen cross the age of 40, such milestones become legendary.

Here are the seven oldest instances of batsmen aging like fine wine to smash unforgettable T20 centuries.

1. Faf du Plessis (41y 340d) – Texas Super Kings (2026)

Standing alone at the top of this list is the evergreen South African mastermind, Faf du Plessis. Representing the Texas Super Kings against Seattle on 18 June 2026, the former Proteas skipper hammered a breathtaking, unbeaten 113 off just 52 deliveries.

Known for his immaculate physical conditioning and textbook power-hitting, Du Plessis dismantled the opposition attack, cementing his legacy as one of the most durable and destructive modern T20 openers.

2. Paul Collingwood (41y 65d) – Durham (2017)

England’s 2010 T20 World Cup-winning captain, Paul Collingwood, showed he still had the magic touch during the 2017 T20 Blast.

Turning out for Durham against Worcestershire on 30 July 2017, the gritty all-rounder rolled back the years with a spectacular 108 not out from 60 balls.

Collingwood, revered for his fierce competitive spirit and exceptional fielding, relied on clever placement and fierce running to produce a masterclass in veteran batting.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

3. Graeme Hick (41y 37d) – Worcestershire (2007)

A true titan of county cricket, Zimbabwe-born England batsman Graeme Hick was an early pioneer of T20 hitting. Long before the format became heavily analytical, Hick showcased his brute strength on 29 June 2007.

Playing for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire, the powerful right-hander bludgeoned a chaotic 110 off a mere 49 balls. Hick’s natural power allowed him to clear boundaries effortlessly, proving that classical batsmen could still dominate the T20 arena.

4. Faf du Plessis (40y 351d) – Texas Super Kings (2025)

Du Plessis’s dominance in Major League Cricket is a recurring theme on this list. Just a year before breaking his own MLC record, he took MI New York to the cleaners on 29 June 2025.

He carried his bat to finish on 103 not out from 53 balls. His uncanny ability to manipulate fields and accelerate in the death overs made this innings a blueprint for anchoring a high-paced T20 innings at an advanced age.

5. Faf du Plessis (40y 342d) – Texas Super Kings (2025)

Remarkably, just nine days prior to his onslaught against New York, Du Plessis had already breached the triple-figure milestone. On 20 June 2025, he blazed exactly 100 off 51 balls against the San Francisco Unicorns.

This particular week-long purple patch highlighted his astonishing recovery times and mental stamina, showing that his age did not hinder his ability to perform in back-to-back elite matches.

6. Ravi Bopara (40y 122d) – Northamptonshire (2025)

Renowned for his smooth stroke play and clever medium-pace, England veteran Ravi Bopara joined the elite over-40 centurions club on 3 September 2025.

Suiting up for Northamptonshire, Bopara ruthlessly destroyed a star-studded Surrey bowling unit, racing to an unbeaten 105 from only 46 deliveries. Bopara used all his franchise experience to manipulate fields, showcasing the timeless art of hitting 360-degree cricket shots.

7. Faf du Plessis (39y 361d) – Texas Super Kings (2024)

Narrowly missing his 40th birthday, Du Plessis kickstarted his incredible late-career century streak on 8 July 2024. He struck a magnificent 100 off 58 balls against Washington Freedom.

This knock laid the foundation for his subsequent years of dominance in America, proving that age only enhanced his tactical acumen and boundary-clearing prowess.

Read next: Blurred boundary lines – The shaky disciplinary record of Ben Stokes on and off the field

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England dispatch South Africa to set up final showdown with Australia

England dispatch South Africa to set up final showdown with Australia

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Cradle to the crease – the 9 youngest men’s T20I debutants

As Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gears up for his highly anticipated international debut against Ireland, the cricket world is once again marvelling at teenage brilliance.

While Sooryavanshi’s journey from explosive IPL sensation to the senior national side highlights the fast-tracked nature of modern tier-one cricket, he enters an arena whose history belongs to an even younger breed of pioneers.

Driven by the expansion of Twenty20 International status to all Associate Members of the ICC, a distinct group of players has stepped onto the global stage before even turning 16.

Supported by official career data, here is how the nine youngest men’s international cricketers fared on debut and where their careers have taken them since.

1. Marian Gherasim (Romania): 14 years, 16 days

Stepping onto the field against Bulgaria during the 2020 Balkan Cup, Romanian medium-pacer Marian Gherasim became the youngest male international cricketer in history. Gherasim did not get a chance to bat or bowl in his rain-affected debut.

He remained a part of the national squad setup until 2022, balancing the physical development needed for senior international bowling with early youth cricket.

2. Alkinoos Manatos (Greece): 14 years, 207 days

Young Greek bowler Alkinoos Manatos made his debut against Serbia in June 2021 during the Sofia T20 tournament.

Tasked with maintaining discipline at a tender age, Manatos went wicketless on debut but provided crucial squad depth for Hellas cricket.

3. Meet Bhavsar (Kuwait): 14 years, 211 days

Unlike many on this list who debuted as lower-order filler players, Kuwait’s Meet Bhavsar was trusted as a frontline wicketkeeper-batter against the Maldives in 2019. He scored a composed 22 runs on debut.

Bhavsar has evolved into a genuine star for Kuwait. He transitioned seamlessly into a pillar of their top order, registering consecutive T20I fifties and appearing globally in showpiece fixtures like the Hong Kong Sixes.

Also read: Ranked – Ben Stokes compared to arguably the best all-rounder in Test cricket history

4. George Sesay (Sierra Leone): 14 years, 311 days

Right-arm medium bowler George Sesay debuted against Nigeria in October 2021. He went wicketless but showed immediate control, conceding only 20 runs from three overs.

Sesay has since developed into an indispensable strike asset for Sierra Leone, frequently leading their bowling attack through ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers.

5. Oscar Duff (Bulgaria): 15 years, 64 days

Bulgarian prospect Oscar Duff entered international cricket against Guernsey in August 2024. Brought into the side to inject youthful energy into their bowling stocks, Duff handled his debut with maturity, setting a foundations-first trajectory for his European cricket career.

Aside from entering the record books due to his age, he has yet to make a serious impact on the field with three runs scored in seven games and two wickets at an average of 60.5.

6. Raymond Coker (Sierra Leone): 15 years, 73 days

Raymond Coker earned his cap against Tanzania in December 2022 during the ACA Africa T20 Cup.

Introduced as a spin option to exploit slow tracks, Coker’s developmental progress alongside teammate George Sesay represents a significant youth-investment push by Sierra Leone Cricket.

He has gone on to play 44 matches for his country and has a high score of 53 with 33 wickets at an average of 22.90.

7. Aleksa Lazic (Serbia): 15 years, 73 days

Serbian all-rounder Aleksa Lazic debuted against Slovenia in June 2025. Lazic was selected to reinforce an evolving Serbian side focused on long-term regional development in Eastern Europe, giving him immediate exposure to competitive tournament play.

Lazic has played six T20Is in total but has yet to make a genuine impact – he is yet to take a wicket and has a highest score of 2*.

8. Alusine Turay (Sierra Leone): 15 years, 74 days

Just a day older than Coker at debut, Alusine Turay debuted against Cameroon in late 2022. Turay has converted his early introduction into solid top-order experience, successfully anchoring numerous qualification matches for his national side.

Now with almost 30 T20Is to his credit, he boasts a highest score of 78 not out.

9. Suhail Vayani (Malawi): 15 years, 89 days

Malawi’s spin bowling prodigy Suhail Vayani debuted against Eswatini in May 2023. He made an immediate splash with disciplined line and length.

Vayani has quickly built a robust international resume, accumulating over 40 T20I cricket wickets at a highly efficient economy rate to become a core member of Malawi’s senior unit.

Read next: Anatomy of a prodigy – Decoding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rates per phase of the innings

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