10 cricketers who made their international debut before MS Dhoni and have not retired yet

MS Dhoni will celebrate his 40th birthday on July 7, 2021. Although he has retired from international cricket now, his popularity has continued to grow. The former Indian cricket team captain is still one of the highest-paid cricketers in the world.

When MS Dhoni played international cricket, there was no other batsman in the world who could match his ability to finish off the innings. He was a master planner, and most importantly, Dhoni knew the art of rescuing his team after a batting collapse.

The current Indian squad has almost all bases covered, but still in some matches, the team misses MS Dhoni's skills. Speaking of Dhoni, quite a few cricketers who made their international debut before him are still active in the international arena.

For the record, Dhoni played his first international match for India on December 23, 2004. Here's a list of ten cricketers who started their international careers before Dhoni and are yet to hang up their boots.

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1. MS Dhoni's former teammate - Dinesh Karthik

MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni fought for the same spot in the Indian playing XI. Both players could bat well and keep the wickets. Although Dhoni achieved more success in the global arena than Karthik, the latter had made his international debut first.

Karthik played his first ODI against England on September 5, 2004 at Lord's. To date, he has represented India in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is. The 36-year-old is still hopeful of a return to the Indian team.

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2. Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal kept the wickets for Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2013

Another wicket-keeper batsman to appear on this list is Pakistan's Kamran Akmal. The Lahore-born player made his Test and ODI debut in 2002. In the last 19 years, he has played 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is for his country.

Akmal has not played international cricket since 2017, but he has performed well in the PSL, thereby increasing his chances of a comeback.

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3. Mohammad Hafeez

Kamran Akmal's compatriot Mohammad Hafeez will turn 41 later this year, but he is one of the top performers for Pakistan in the T20 format.

Hafeez, who made his international debut in 2003, ended 2020 as the highest run-scorer in T20Is played that year. The all-rounder will aim to be a part of the Pakistani squad for the T20 World Cup 2021.

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4. Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik is a former Pakistan skipper

Another veteran Pakistani all-rounder to feature on this list is Shoaib Malik. The 39-year-old captained Pakistan against MS Dhoni's Team India in the inaugural T20 World Cup Final.

Malik has not played international cricket in 2021 so far. However, he has not announced his retirement and has been working hard to return to the squad.

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5. James Anderson

James Anderson recently accomplished the feat of taking 1,000 first-class wickets. Like MS Dhoni, Anderson has focussed a lot on his fitness, which has helped him extend his career.

Anderson, who made his ODI debut in 2002, no longer plays white-ball cricket for England, but he is an integral part of the Test team. The 38-year-old will be in action against India next month.

6. MS Dhoni's CSK teammate - Dwayne Bravo

MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo have been two of the most successful players in T20 cricket history

MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo play together for the Chennai Super Kings. Bravo is one of MS Dhoni's most trusted players in the CSK squad. The Caribbean all-rounder is now a T20 specialist.

Bravo made his international debut a few months before MS Dhoni. He does not play Tests or ODIs for the West Indies now, but the 37-year-old all-rounder has continued to win matches for his team in the T20I arena.

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7. Chris Gayle

MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle during the 2015 Cricket World Cup

Another player from the West Indies T20I team to feature on this list is Chris Gayle. The Universe Boss never lost a T20 World Cup match as captain against MS Dhoni's Indian team.

Although he is 41 now, Gayle seems to be in no mood to retire. The Jamaican star, who made his ODI debut in 1999, will likely play in the upcoming two ICC T20 World Cup events for the Caribbean team.

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8. MS Dhoni's former teammate - Harbhajan Singh

MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh in action during Champions League T20

Harbhajan Singh is the oldest Indian cricketer present on this list. The 41-year-old, who received his maiden international cap in 1998, has been out of the Indian team since 2016. Still, he has not given up and is hopeful of making a return.

Singh will turn up for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the second phase of IPL 2021. If he performs well in the United Arab Emirates, he can boost his chances of playing in the T20 World Cup.

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9. Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra is the most successful Indian bowler in IPL history. The veteran leg-spinner played his first international match against South Africa in 2003.

Mishra plays for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Like Harbhajan Singh, he could return to the Indian squad by producing an extraordinary performance in the second phase of IPL 2021.

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10. Fidel Edwards

Caribbean pacer Fidel Edwards made his return to international cricket earlier this year. The 39-year-old received a place in the West Indies team for the first time back in June 2003.

Edwards has played 55 Tests, 50 ODIs and 24 T20Is for the West Indies. Having performed well in the T20Is against South Africa, the right-arm pacer is likely to be a part of the Caribbean squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.