Taking a Five-wicket haul in a T20I match is very difficult as compared to the ODIs and Tests format. The reason behind it is that the players only get to bowl a maximum of four overs in a T20I match. Since there are only 24 balls, the chances of take five wickets are comparatively lesser than bowlers bowling 60 balls or unlimited overs in a game.
However, quite a few bowlers have managed to accomplish the feat of taking five wickets in an innings. Some have even done it in the final phases of their careers. To date, there have been three such players who took a five-wicket haul in T20Is after turning 40 years old.
In this listicle today, we will look at the four players who rank at the top when one looks at the list of the oldest bowlers to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is.
4. Imran Tahir – 39 years and 196 days old
South African cricket team’s leg-spinner Imran Tahir is the oldest bowler from Test-playing nations to take a five-wicket haul in T20I cricket. At the age of 39 years and 196 days, Tahir bagged a five-wicket haul while playing against the Zimbabwean cricket team back in the year 2018.
3. Sudesh Wikramasena – 40 years and 10 days old
One of the three players to take a five-wicket haul in T20I cricket after turning 40 years old is Sudesh Wikramasena. Czech Republic is one of the fastest-rising teams, and Sudesh Wikramasena accomplished the feat of taking five wickets at 40 years and 10 days old against Bulgaria this year.
2. Aamir Kaleem – 40 years and 86 days old
Another player to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is at the age of 40 is Aamir Kaleem. He took five wickets while playing for Oman against UAE this year.
1. Tomakunte Ritawa – 46 years and 299 days old
Oldest men to take five-wicket haul in T20Is:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) September 14, 2022
46y 299d – Tomakunte Ritawa🇨🇰 (Cook Is.) v Fiji, today
40y 86d – Aamir Kaleem🇴🇲 (Oman) v UAE, 2022
40y 10d – Sudesh Wikramasena🇨🇿 (Czech Rep) v Bulgaria, 2022
39y 196d – Imran Tahir🇿🇦 (SA) v Zimbabwe, 2018#EAPQualifiers
Cook Islands player Tomakunte Ritawa became the oldest player to take five wickets in a T20I earlier today in a match against Fiji. He is playing in the ICC EAP Qualifiers right now.
