Although known as a young man’s format at the time of its inception, the T20 version of cricket has evolved in recent years. Every player, despite his age and attributes, can contribute to his team in this format. That said, age is still a put-off in IPL. A tournament that includes 14 games and loads of travelling, team managements normally stay away from employing older cricketers. That does not mean that they are overlooked altogether. Even last season, we had the likes of Chris Gayle and Imran Tahir still giving their 100% on the pitch.
In this article, we discuss three cricketers who are above 40 years of age and have enrolled for the upcoming IPL auctions. While the chances of them getting picked are slim, they still have traits that can entice a bid or two.
1. Harbhajan Singh (Age – 40)
The most notable player in this list, of course, is veteran Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh. Bhajji played for CSK in two editions and had to pull out of the competition in 2020. He was released recently by the franchise. The Punjab-born cricketer has set himself a base price of INR 2 crores for the upcoming auctions. Although he does have the experience, franchises might be a little hesitant to bid for Harbhajan. The player has been inactive for a while and was not even a part of the domestic competitions. He might, hence, go unsold at the auctions. Nevertheless, Bhajji is a fan favourite, and teams like Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians could target him for the exact reason.
Teams which might target the player : Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad
2. Nayan Doshi (Age – 42)
Son of former Indian Test bowler Dilip Doshi, 42-year-old Nayan Doshi is the oldest player in the registered list. Nayan has played IPL cricket in the past. Across IPL 2010 and 2011, he played four games, representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals. In the T20 format, Nayan is quite experienced. He has played a lot of games in England and has proved his credentials there. That said, it will be a surprise if any team goes for him at the auction. Nayan is a left-arm spinner and is orthodox in his approach. To buy a player of his age, there must be more which he must be able to contribute. Hence, he might go unsold at the event.
Teams which might target the player : Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders
3. S Santhamoorthy (Age – 41)
The third name on the list is an interesting one. 41-year-old Santhamoorthy came to limelight after his five-wicket haul against Mumbai in SMAT 2021. He, therefore, became the oldest player to achieve the feat. Last year too, the pacer did a fine job for his team Puducherry. A part-time cricketer, Santhamoorthy has experience of playing in the competitive Tamil Nadu Premier League. He has also represented the Madras Cricket Club in his career, which is more than 20 years long now. While it is an inspiring story, whether he can bag a contract is another discussion. Will CSK hire their homegrown boy will be a subplot at the auctions.
Teams which might target the player: Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings
