Playing in the Cricket World Cup is the aim of every cricketer who starts playing at the international level. The 50-over WC happens once in every four years, and only the best 15 players in the nation get a place in the squad for the mega event.
It is not everyone’s cup of tea to make it to the 15-man WC squad of his nation. Some of the greatest names in world cricket never got an opportunity to represent their nation at the 50-over WC. On the other hand, there were some players who managed to do so even before turning 21 years old.
Hundreds of cricketers have played for the Indian cricket team, but only the following three of them achieved the feat of playing at the grand stage even before celebrating their 21st birthday.
1. Sachin Tendulkar made World Cup debut at the age of 18
The youngest Indian men’s cricketer to feature in WC match is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. He received a place in the playing XI at the grand stage when he was only 18 years and 304 days old. To date, he owns the record for the youngest Indian to play a WC match at the senior level.
2. Vinod Kambli
Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli were nicknamed by many as the future stars of Indian cricket. While Tendulkar went on to become the greatest name in Indian cricket history, Kambli’s fate was not the same. He made his WC debut at the age of 20 years and 35 days, but Kambli’s distractions from the field led to his early retirement.
3. Kapil Dev
Today in 1992
— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) February 22, 2023
Sachin Tendulkar made his Worldcup Debut
Youngest to represent India in WC
18yr 304d – Sachin Tendulkar
20yr 35d – Vinod Kambli
20yr 154d – Kapil Dev
21yr 13d – Ravi Shastri
21yr 27d – Ajay Jadeja
21yr 62d – Yuvraj Singh
India’s first-ever WC winning captain Kapil Dev also made his debut at the grand stage before his 21st birthday. He was just 20 years and 154 days old when he got a place in the Indian XI for a match at the grand stage.
