Perhaps the biggest misconception that people have about the T20 format is that it is meant only for the younger generation. In fact, it is a version of cricket in which both youngsters and veterans have been equally effective in all departments.
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A quick look at T20 international cricket records will tell you that it is the older players who rule the roost. The recently retired Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum is the highest T20I run scorer, whereas Pakistan's veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi leads the list of wicket-takers.
Even in terms of overall T20 records, most of the senior pros prevail over the current crop of players. A primary example is 36-year old West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, who has scored the most runs across all forms of the T20 game.
The 9th season of the Indian Premier League will see a lot of old warhorses representing the 8 franchises. Here are the top 10 oldest players in IPL 2016:
Samuel Badree - 35
West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree played a crucial role in his country's recent title triumph in the World Twenty20. At 35, Badree is among the oldest players to be part of the 2016 IPL and he will be representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise.
Although the Trinidadian leggie has played a lot of T20 cricket, he only has 5 IPL matches to his credit in the past 3 years. He joined the league with the Rajasthan Royals side and then moved on to the Chennai Super Kings.
Having tasted quite a lot of success in the recent past in international cricket as well as the CPL, Samuel Badree will be looking forward to make the most of his latest IPL stint.
Shadab Jakati - 35
Shadab Jakati, a left-arm spinner from Goa, rose to prominence very late in his career courtesy of his performances for the Chennai Super Kings. The 35-year old bowled brilliantly for CSK and was one of MS Dhoni's primary weapons with the ball in at least a couple of seasons.
In 2014, Jakati was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore but got to play just a solitary match in the season. At the IPL 2016 auction, he earned a contract with one of the two new franchises, Gujarat Lions, where he will play under former CSK team-mate, Suresh Raina.
The veteran spinner regularly appears in the line-up for his state side Goa, especially in limited-overs cricket.
Kevin Pietersen - 35
Even at the age of 35, Kevin Pietersen is among the most sought after T20 cricketers in the world. The iconic English cricketer has covered all the prominent T20 leagues in the cricketing globe, be it the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, the Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League or the Bangladesh Premier League.
Pietersen had missed out on an entire season of the IPL last year due to an injury and will be looking to get back on track with a completely new franchise, the Rising Pune Supergiants. The hard-hitting batsman averages slightly above 37 in his IPL career and his skipper MS Dhoni will rely on him to produce the goods with the bat.
Rajat Bhatia - 36
Delhi all-rounder Rajat Bhatia has been quite a consistent performer in the IPL over the past few years, more so with the ball. In the 2016 edition, the 36-year old Bhatia is among the oldest players who will be taking part in the tournament that commences on 9 April 2016.
He started off his IPL career with the Delhi Daredevils and later made a switch to the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. Bhatia featured in the KKR squad which won the league title in the year 2012 and made a notable contribution.
This time around, Rajat Bhatia has been picked up by the Rising Pune Supergiants and he will be wanting to make an impact for his new franchise.
Chris Gayle - 36
West Indian batting powerhouse Chris Gayle is one of the most prolific batsmen in the history of IPL cricket. At the age of 36, Gayle is also currently among the oldest stars to be playing in the world's most popular domestic T20 tournament.
The Jamaican's records in the IPL speak for themselves as he has scored more than 3000 runs at an average of just over 46. Gayle has been playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise for quite a few years and they ensure he is on the list of retained players each time.
RCB have never won an IPL title ever since the tournament began and Chris Gayle will be hoping to help them put them across the line this year.
Ashish Nehra - 36
Veteran Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra received a new lease to life in his international career after a stellar performance in last year's IPL for the Chennai Super Kings. After the suspension of his previous franchise, the 36-year old has struck a deal with the Sunrisers Hyderabad team.
Nehra has worked hard on his fitness and the results are showing in the way he has been playing T20 cricket regularly for the Indian team this year. The left-arm pacer will be wanting to make a quick impression on his new team by producing the goods for them with the ball.
Another good season this year will only strengthen Ashish Nehra's chances of clinging on to his spot in the national side.
Imran Tahir - 37
South Africa's leg-spinner of Pakistani descent, Imran Tahir, has defied age to play for his national team in all three formats. The 37-year old Tahir has also impressed one and all in the IPL for the Delhi Daredevils franchise as he has picked up 24 wickets in just 16 games.
The leggie is among the players retained by the Daredevils for the 2016 edition of the tournament. Tahir has a number of variations up his sleeve and he managed to fox a lot of batsmen last year with his sharp bowling.
Imran Tahir will be wanting to help the Delhi Daredevils to their maiden IPL title by producing a fine performance.
Zaheer Khan - 37
Iconic Indian paceman Zaheer Khan may have called it a day from international cricket but he will continue to play cricket in the IPL. He is one of the retained players from the previous season for Delhi Daredevils and has been chosen as their skipper for the 2016 IPL.
Previously, Zaheer played in the tournament for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team and later for the Mumbai Indians. The left-arm pacer has played 77 matches in his IPL career so far and claimed 82 wickets at an average of 26.
Zaheer Khan will be looking to set the record straight for the Delhi Daredevils in his stint as captain and lead them to a title triumph.
Pravin Tambe - 44
Leg-spinner Pravin Tambe has become a popular name ever since he made his debut for the Rajasthan Royals at the age of 41 in the 2013 IPL. Now 43, Tambe takes the 2nd spot in the list of oldest players featuring in the 2016 season of the IPL.
Before making it to the Royals side, the leggie had not played a single first-class game but he settled down quite quickly. In the 2014 edition of the tournament, Pravin Tambe picked up a hat-trick for his team in a match against KKR and led them to a sensational win.
Tambe was taken by the Gujarat Lions franchise in the 2016 IPL players auction and he will be wanting to make the most of the opportunities that he gets.
Brad Hogg - 45
Brad Hogg, the Australian left-arm chinaman bowler, is the oldest cricketer to be playing in the 2016 edition of the IPL. The 45-year old is one of the players which the Kolkata Knight Riders have retained from the previous season of the tournament.
Hogg has performed quite well in his IPL career so far with 19 wickets in 16 matches and an economy rate of just a little over 7. The Aussie has featured in other T20 tournaments as well such as the Big Bash League and the Masters Champions League.
KKR will be banking on Brad Hogg to play an ideal foil to Sunil Narine in their spin attack as they embark on the quest for another IPL title.
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