Indian cricketers have made a name for themselves with their brilliant performances on the field. Courtesy of the talented Indian cricketers, many fans consider India as the strongest team in the cricket world right now. Such is the depth of Team India that it can field two different squads at the same time.
If needed, Team India can also assemble three squads and play against three opponents at the same time. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, BCCI decided to allow the Indian cricketers in the United Kingdom to stay there and enjoy a break instead of traveling to Sri Lanka to play with the hosts. The selection committee picked a second-string squad for the series against Sri Lanka. They went in a new captain, and Shikhar Dhawan got the reins of the Indian cricket team for the first time ever in his international career.
Today, Dhawan is making his ODI captaincy debut, and he broke an old record for being the oldest Indian player on ODI captaincy debut. In this listicle, we will look at the four oldest Indian cricketers to make ODI captaincy debut.
4. First player to lead Indian cricketers in an ODI Ajit Wadekar – 33 years and 103 days
Ajit Wadekar was the first player to captain the Indian cricket team in an ODI match. Team India played its first ODI against the England cricket team back on July 13, 1974 in Leeds. Wadekar was 33 years and 103 days old when he captained India for the first time in ODIs.
The Indian cricket team batted well in that match as they scored 265 runs in the first innings. However, the home team chased the target and won by four wickets.
3. Syed Kirmani – 33 years and 353 days
Syed Kirmani made his ODI captaincy debut against the West Indies cricket team on December 17, 1983. Guwahati played host to the battle between India and the Caribbean outfit.
Wicket-keeper batsman Kirmani was 33 years and 353 days old when he led India. He scored six runs as the captain. Ultimately, West Indies defeated India by six wickets in that match.
2. Mohinder Amarnath – 34 years and 37 days
One of the only two Indian cricketers to make ODI captaincy debut after the age of 34 years is Mohinder Amarnath. Mohinder held the record for being the oldest Indian on ODI captaincy debut for quite some time.
He was 34 years and 37 days old when he captained India in an ODI match against Pakistan on October 31, 1984. The match in Sialkot ended with no result.
1. One of the top Indian cricketers in 2021: Shikhar Dhawan – 35 years and 225 days
Shikhar Dhawan became the first Indian to make ODI captaincy after the age of 35 on July 18, 2021. Dhawan was 35 years and 225 days old when he led India against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
As mentioned ahead, Dhawan got an opportunity to lead the Indian cricket team after the BCCI decided to pick a second-string squad for the Sri Lanka tour. Dhawan will also captain India in the T20I series, scheduled to happen after the 3-match ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series between the Indian cricket team and the Sri Lankan side.
