T20 World Cup 2021: Youngest and oldest player from each team

The T20 World cup 2021 has kick-started successfully on the 17th of October at UAE and the four teams to get qualified for the super 12’s are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Scotland, and Namibia. All the 12 teams have been divided equally into two groups and both of those seem to be tough and equally competitive.

The teams announced their 15-men squad earlier and all of them have a balanced chart in terms of the roles as well as the ages of their players. This edition of the World Cup features players from an age bracket from as low as 19 and goes up to 42.

The youngest team of the tournament is Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with an average age of the players being 26.53 and the oldest team is England with an average age of 31.33. Every team has well-experienced senior players and also some young players in their squad. Here is the list of teams with their

Youngest and oldest players in all the teams of T20 World Cup 2021

1. Afghanistan

Youngest player-Rahmanullah Gurbaz:

The youngest player not only in Afghanistan’s team but also in the tournament is Rahmanullah Gurbaz and his age at present is 19. He is the only teenager to take part in the tournament this year. This teen represented the Afghanistan under-19 cricket World Cup in 2017. He also became the leading run-scorer of the Afghanistan U-19 team in Asia cup-2019.

This wicket-keeping-batter made into the national T20 side against Zimbabwe in 2019 and has played 13 matches. He debuted in ODI against Ireland in 2021 and became the first player to score a century in a debut match for Afghanistan. This young gun is expected to perform the way he played in his debut match.

Oldest Player-Mohammad Nabi:

The captain of the Afghanistan cricket team-Mohammad Nabi aged 36 is the oldest player in their squad. He is an extraordinary all-rounder and one of the best players in their country. He is currently the top-ranked all-rounder in the ICC-T20 rankings.

This Afghan player was named as their captain after Rashid Khan refused to lead their side. He holds the record of being honoured as man of the match for the most number of times in this T20 format. Being the backbone of their side, his experience and talent could bring glory to them.

2. Australia:

Youngest player-Josh Inglis:

Josh Inglis is an Australian wicketkeeping batter who is of age 26. He has been impressive with his sharp wicketkeeping skills and innovative shots. Though he has not represented his National side yet, he has been a consistent performer in their first class and Big Bash League matches.

This is his maiden call-up to the national team and how special it would be to represent the national side for the first time on a mammoth stage like this. His whacking career strike rate of 143.45 in the BBL has impressed the selectors.

The selectors picked him in the place of Alex Carey and they mention him as one of the players who could play spin well and also could provide different finishing abilities by playing all around the ground. His flexibility to open the innings as well as to bat in the middle orders has increased his chance of playing in the team later.

Oldest player-David Warner:

David Warner, known as one of the most aggressive batters of the Australian side is the oldest player in the squad. He brings in a lot of experience to their group. He comes under the list of top-10 players with the most number of runs in the T20 International career.

This 34-year-old veteran has been one of the most successful openers of the Australian side since his T20I debut in 2009. In his T20I span of 2009-2021, he has played a total of 82 matches and has scored 2279 runs with a colossal strike rate of 139.3.

His rusty form in 2021 IPL at UAE has been a worrying factor for the Aussies. Though, a player of his standards just requires a single match to a change in form. He has been a match-winner for their crew many times and hope he could contribute well to his team again.

3. Bangladesh:

Youngest player-Shoriful Islam:

Mohammad Shoriful Islam is just 20 years young and he is the youngest of their Squad. This left-arm pacer was brought into the limelight after the triumph of the Bangladesh team in the U-19 cricket World Cup in 2020.

His aggression in knockout games in that tournament made the selectors think about his inclusion in the national side. 2021 has been a jubilant year for this bowler, as he was called to represent the Bangladesh team and he debuted in all three formats in the same year.

He has represented the Bangladesh T20I team for a total of 11 matches and has been so consummate by picking up 17 wickets with an economy of 7.97. With the guidance of Mustafizur Rahman, he could be handy for his troupe.

Oldest player- Mahmudullah:

The skipper of Bangladesh is indeed the oldest player on their squad. This seasoned cricketer was born in 1986 and currently, his age is 35. He started his career as a batter and then also began to bowl some handy off-spinners and was named later as an all-rounder.

He played his first T20I match in 2007 against Kenya and he also holds the record of being the first Bangladeshi centurion in a World Cup match. He has always been a good captain and a lower middle-order batter who could finish games and is also a useful bowler.

He has made 105 T20I appearances for the team having 1860 runs with the bat and 33 wickets with an economy of 7.19. As a senior-most player in the squad, his stint would be valuable for their team.

4. England:

Youngest Player-Tom Curran:

Thomas Tom Curran is a bowling all-rounder and the youngest in the squad. He is 26 years old and was brought into the T20 World Cup squad as a replacement for his injured sibling Sam Curran who could have been the youngest on the team.

He debuted for England in 2017 in a T20I match against South Africa and has played 30 T20I matches grabbing 29 wickets and has hit some quick knocks with the bat for his country.

He hasn’t been so appealing with his bowling economy over the years. But, his ability to swing the ball and his variations in the pace along with some adroit to contribute with the bat could be effective if he uses his potential to the fullest.

Oldest player-Eoin Morgan:

The Captain of the English cricket team-Eoin Morgan is the oldest player on the squad. He was initially an Irish batter and was called on to represent the England cricket team later. He is a left-handed middle-order batter and the World-Cup winning captain for England in 2019.

The 35-year-old batter holds many achievements under his cap. He is the all-time leading run-scorer and most-capped player for England in both T20I and ODIs. In 2021, he also became the first English male cricketer to play 100 T20I for their national side.

The Southpaw has played a total of 108 T20I matches and has scored 2367 runs with a strike rate of 138.1. His lack of form in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League at UAE has been a concern for the England cricket team.

5. India:

Youngest player-Rahul Chahar:

Rahul Chahar is a 22-year-old leggie who can bowl very good leg-breaks and googlies with a swift pace. This Haryana lad was picked by Rising Pune Supergiant’s team in the 2017 IPL at a very young age of 18 and he proved his worth and eventually got sold to the Mumbai Indian’s squad in the next year.

After then, he has been a consistent player in the playing eleven of Mumbai Indians and his superior performance paved a way for his debut in the Indian T20 side in 2019. He has worn the Indian Jersey in T20 format for a total of 5 games and has taken 7 wickets till now.

This youth was picked in the squad ahead of the adept Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been serving the Indian side so far. Captain Kohli recently gave the reason that Rahul was given preference in the squad as his pace could help the team on the slower UAE tracks.

Oldest Player- Ravichandran Ashwin:

Ravi Ashwin is the oldest player in the current Indian squad. He has been representing the nation since his debut in 2010. He is presently one of the most experienced off-spinner in the tournament. His performance has been splendid in red-ball cricket over the years.

This 35-year-old player’s inclusion in the T20 World-cup squad has been a surprise not only for the fans but also for himself. He played his last T20 match in 2017 against West Indies, after which he was used only in the longest format of the game.

Even though he did not represent the Indian side in Blues for few years, he has been a sure-shot player to be in the playing eleven of every team in which he has been a part of in the IPL.

6. New Zealand:

Youngest player- Glenn Phillips:

Glenn Dominic Phillips is the youngest player in the Kiwi’s camp, aged 24. His role in the team is to be a wicketkeeping-batter who can play an aggressive brand of cricket. He was called up in the New Zealand squad for the first time in 2017 as a cover for Martin Guptill.

He then climbed the ladder of success gradually and took a spot for him in the squad later. He is the fastest New Zealander to hit a century in a T20I match that just came off from 46 balls. He then obtained the NZC central contract.

His performance in the shortest format of the game made him a prominent player. He has played 25 T20I matches and has a shattering career strike rate of 149.41.

Oldest Player-Todd Astle:

Todd Duncan Astle comes under this list as he is just 6 days elder than his eminent team-mate Martin Guptill. Astle turned 35 on September 24th and he is the oldest player in their squad.

Astle commenced his career as an opening batter in first-class games and later became a bowling all-rounder. He debuted in T20I for New Zealand in 2016 against Pakistan and has not been a regular contender in the squad.

Though being the oldest player in the squad, he has just played four T20I games for the Kiwis. This injury-prone player is expected to be a decent leg spinner and a lower-order slogger for their team in this T20 World cup.

7. Pakistan:

Youngest player-Mohammad Wasim:

Mohammad Wasim is a Pakistani all-rounder, who is just 20 years of age. He was born on August 25th of the year 2001. This fresh cricketer delivers medium-pace in his bowling and could also be a handy batter.

He was a part of Pakistan’s squad for the Under-19 cricket World-cup 2020. He debuted for Pakistan’s national side in 2021 against West Indies in T20I. This newbie has just played 4 T20I matches and is yet to make an impact.

Oldest player-Mohammad Hafeez:

The oldest player of the team and the second oldest player of the tournament is none other than Pakistan’s stalwart cricketer Mohammad Hafeez. He is a versatile batter who could bat at any position in the top 6 and is an efficient finger spinner.

Being the forefather of their team, he has appeared in 113 T20I matches and is also the 6th highest run-getter in this format with 2429 runs. He first played this format for Pakistan in 2006 and has cemented his spot since 2011.

This venerable cricketer was in the helm for a decent period when he captained the team. He has also captained the side in the 2012 T20 World Cup where they made it to the semis and also in 2014’s T20 World Cup where they did not get qualified for the semis for the first time. His guidance and performance could be nifty for their side.

8. South Africa:

Youngest player-Wiaan Mulder:

Pieter Willem Adriaan Mulder was born in 1998 and is just 23 years of age at present. Mulder is a rising all-rounder in the South African circuit. He has extravagant strokeplay with an orthodox technique along with some variations in his medium-paced bowling attack.

This Proteas player was a part of the 2016 Under-19 World Cup squad. He debuted for the ODI side when he was just 19 years in 2017 and in T20I in 2021 against Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively. He has played 5 T20I matches and has grabbed 5 wickets with an economy of 8.18.

Oldest player-Rassie van der Dussen:

Rassie van der Dussen is a top-order right-hand batter for South Africa. He was born in February 1989 and is of age 32. There are 3 other players – Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, and Dwaine Pretorius who are of the same age, but Rassie is the eldest among them.

Van der Dussen has been a legend in the domestic circuit but did not get a chance to represent the national side before his T20I debut in 2018 against Zimbabwe. He has played 30 T20I matches and has a strike rate of 134.39 and an average of 34.45.

He usually comes to bat at number 3 for South Africa and his style is more or less like their legendary batter Faf du Plessis. He has not been a hard hitter as such but is more of a grafter and a decent player of spin. His consistency has earned him a spot in the T20 World cup 2021.

9. Sri Lanka:

Youngest player-Maheesh Theekshana:

Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana is a 21-year-old off-break bowler and he is the youngest of the squad. He has been the latest sensation in the cricketing world. He is referred to as a mystery-spinner and is compared to their senior who held this tag before-Ajantha Mendis.

Theekshana is known for his carom-ball and he made his international debut for Sri Lanka in 2021 against South Africa. He has played 6 T20I matches and has grabbed 9 wickets with an economy of 6.57. He impressed the selectors just from playing a single series and eventually got selected in the T20 World-cup squad.

Oldest player-Dinesh Chandimal:

Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal is the oldest player for Sri Lanka. He is a wicket-keeper and a hard-hitting right-handed batter. He is a technically sound batter who could hit all around the ground and is a match-winner for their side.

Chandimal played his first T20 match way back in 2010 against New Zealand at the age of 21. He has appeared in 61 matches for Sri Lanka till now and has not been so consistent with his bat in this format and has always been in and out for this team.

Dinesh has been an integral part of the 2012 T20 World-cup when they were the runners and also when they lifted the T20 World-cup trophy in 2014. Being the most experienced player in the squad, he could guide the team along with his captain.

10. West Indies:

Youngest player-Obed McCoy:

Obed Christopher McCoy is a left-arm fast-medium bowler who has awe-strucked the selectors in a short period of time. His bowling is most suited for the shortest format of the game as he has some good variations under his sleeve.

The 24-year-old Caribbean player makes it difficult for the batters to score runs in the death as he mixes up his deliveries. He debuted for West Indies in 2019 against England in the T20 Internationals. On playing 13 games, he has taken 19 wickets with an economy of 7.76. His energy and freshness could help the Windies to perform well in the tournament.

Oldest player- Chris Gayle:

Christopher Henry Gayle is tailor-made to play the T20 format. He is the oldest player of the tournament and obviously the oldest of the team. This warhorse needs neither an introduction nor a description.

This 42-year-old cricketer has been one of the best in this format. He is one of the players who has been playing cricket since the first edition of the T20 world cup in 2007. Long ago in 2006, he played his first T20I match for West Indies against New Zealand.

He is the ambassador of this format with more than 14000 runs and is praised for hitting 1000+ sixes. It is also to be noted that he scored his first international century against South Africa in the inaugural match of the 2007 T20 World-cup.

11. Namibia

Youngest player-Loftie Eaton:

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton is a Namibian Left-hand batter. He was born on March 15th, 2001. He made his T20 debut against Uganda in 2021. This 20 year-young player has played 6 T20Is and has scored 27 runs in 3 innings.

Oldest player-Craig Williams:

Craig George Williams is the oldest player in the squad. He is the captain of the current Namibian team. He is 37 years old and he is a top-order right-hand batter and has played 22 T20Is and has scored 563 runs with an average of 31.27.

12. Scotland:

Youngest player-Mark Watt:

Mark Robert James Watt is a Scottish cricketer. He is a flat left-arm spinner who is a defensive bowler more than a wicket-taking bowler. This 25-year-old bowler debuted against Ireland in 2015.

He is known for his 3 wicket haul against England in an ODI match which overturned in the favour of Scotland. He has played 42 T20I matches and has taken 52 wickets.

Oldest player-Kyle Coetzer:

Kyle James Coetzer is the current captain of the Scottish cricket team and is also the oldest player in the squad. He is a top-order right-hand batter and he made his first appearance in T20I in 2008 against Ireland and has played 65 international T20 matches to date.

-Mathuravardhan Sivakumar