Top 10 oldest cricketers in IPL 2015

With Australia wrapping up the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in a thumping manner, the focus now shifts to the 8th season of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). With only a week left for the IPL to begin, every franchise is fine-tuning its preparations for the season. The league is seen as a platform for young and emerging players to not only make a name for themselves but also share the dressing room with some of the biggest names in the game, who, in turn, impart their wisdom to the young guns to hone their craft.Although T20 cricket was initially labelled a young man’s game, we have seen plenty of veterans coming to the fore in the IPL and even outperforming a lot of the younger players over the years. Here are the 10 oldest players that will be seen in action in IPL 2015:NOTE: For this list, we have only considered the players who have played a minimum of six IPL matches.

#10 Mithun Manhas - 35 years and 172 days

Chennai Super Kings Mithun Manhas is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL having previously played for Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors. Known to be a calm and composed middle order batsman, Manhas can keepthe scoreboard ticking along owing to his ability to manoeuvre the ball into gaps for ones and twos in between the odd boundary.

With many big names in the Chennai squad, however, it remains to be seen whether Manhas will get enough opportunities in the playing XI.

IPL career batting stats

Matches	Not Outs	Runs	HS	Average	SR	100s	50s
55	15	514	42*	22.34	109.36	0	0

#9 Chris Gayle - 35 years and 193 days

Chris Gayle is an absolute darling of the RCB fans. Ever since he came in as a replacement for Dirk Nannes in the 2011 IPL season, he has been one of RCBs most consistent performers and won many matches almost single-handedly, endearing himself to the RCB faithful in the process.

However, he had a sedate IPL 2014 by his standards, scoring just 196 runs from 9 matches at a middling average of 21.77, resulting in the Virat Kohli-led franchise finishing second last in the group. Although some fitness issues still persist, it shouldnt stop the 35-year-old from getting back to his best and helping RCB finally lift some silverware.

IPL career batting stats

Matches	Not Outs	Runs	HS	Average	SR	100s	50s
68	10	2708	175*	47.50	154.56	4	16

#8 Ashish Nehra - 35 years and 338 days

An important cog of the Indian bowling at his peak, Ashish Nehras career has unfortunately been plagued by injuries. The fact that Nehra, who is currently with CSK, has played for as many as 4 franchises in the IPL, including Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors, suggests that he has found it difficult to settle.

As the past suggests, however, Nehra can still be lethal if the ball is swinging around. The 35-year-old has the weight of experience on his side and will be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the CSK seam bowling attack.

IPL career bowling stats

Matches	Wickets	Economy	SR	BBM	4W	5W
58	67	7.90	18.70	3/13	0	0

#7 Imran Tahir 36 years and 6 days

Coming on the back of an impressive World Cup campaign with the Proteas, Imran Tahir will be full of confidence andexpected to play an important role with the ball in hand if Delhi Daredevils are to forget the disappointments of last season and start a new chapter under JP Duminys captaincy.

One of the difficulties he will have to face is that is that he will be playing a majority of his games on a small ground at the Feroz Shah Kotla, but his variations and clever changes of pace should hold him in good stead for the challenge ahead.

IPL career bowling stats

Matches	Wickets	Economy	SR	BBM	4W	5W
6	9	8.20	13.88	3/22	0	0

#6 Virender Sehwag 36 years and 163 days

Virender Sehwag might be 36 years old and perhaps towards the end of his cricketing career, but he hasnt any of the destructiveness that made him such a potent force during his time with the Indian team. After scoring 455 runs from 17 matches at an outstanding strike rate of 145-odd last season, Sehwag will be eager to continue his good run and lead Kings XI Punjab to the top four.

If he does so, an India comeback, irrespective of how improbable it seems at this stage, might not be out of the question.

IPL career batting stats

Matches	Not Outs	Runs	HS	Average	SR	100s	50s
96	5	2629	122	28.89	157.33	2	16

#5 Zaheer Khan 36 years and 177 days

Zaheer Khan was the spearhead of the Indian bowling for a decade and counts amongst the finest fast bowlers that India has ever produced. Owing to numerous injuries over the years, he has cut down on his pace but has made up for it with his impeccable line and length.

Zaheer is also one of the best exponents of reverse swing. In the shortest version of the game, though, there is almost no scope to get the ball to reverse, as a result of which he has to relyon his bag of tricks comprising of cutters and slower deliveries. Zaheer, who will be playing for Delhi Daredevils this upcoming season, has found himself out of the reckoning of the Indian team in recent times, and the IPL provides the perfect platform for the left-armer to stage a comeback.

IPL career bowling stats

Matches	Wickets	Economy	SR	BBM	4W	5W
70	75	7.63	20.69	4/17	1	0

#4 Michael Hussey 39 years and 310 days

With an average of 40.42, Michael Hussey has been a consistent performer in the IPL. He had a rare blip while playing for the Mumbai Indians last season but is now back with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a franchise where he enjoyed great success from 2008 to 2013.

Although his rolefor the upcoming season is unclear, one of his inherent strengths as a batsman is that he can adapt himself to the situation of the game and play according to the needs of the team.

IPL career batting stats

Matches	Not Outs	Runs	HS	Average	SR	100s	50s
55	7	1900	116*	40.42	123.21	1	14

#3 Azhar Mahmood - 40 years and 33 days

Though not expected to be one of the first-choice players, Azhar Mahmood can use his vast experience acquired from playing in many different conditions around the world and have an impact if called upon.

He initially went unsold in the IPL auctions, but an injury to KKR all-rounder James Neesham ruled him out of the tournament and has given Mahmood another chance, which the former Pakistan cricketer needs to make optimal use of.

IPL career batting stats

Matches	Not Outs	Runs	HS	Average	SR	100s	50s
22	2	382	80	21.22	129.05	0	2

IPL career bowling stats

Matches	Wickets	Economy	SR	BBM	4W	5W
22	29	7.61	17.89	3/20	0	0

#2 Pravin Tambe - 43 years and 176 days

Leg-spinner Pravin Tambes success clearly disproves the notion that T20 cricket is only a young mans game. Having not played even a single first-class game for Mumbai, Tambe, who was 41 at the time, waspicked out of nowhereby Rajasthan Royals for the 2013 IPL season, and he has been a revelation ever since.

During the Champions League T20 later that year, in particular, Tambe showed that he had all the skills to be successful at the top level, finishing up as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 12 scalps from 5 matches at a phenomenal average of 6.50. Despite being about to turn 44 in October this year, he will be one of the players instrumental in deciding the fate of the Royals.

IPL career bowling stats

Matches	Wickets	Economy	SR	BBM	4W	5W
16	16	7.40	22.50	4/20	1	0

#1 Brad Hogg 44 years and 55 days

At 44 years of age, Brad Hogg is the oldest player in IPL 2015. Thetwo-time World Cup winner, who has represented the Rajasthan Royals in the past, will play for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season for the first time, and it remains to be seen whether the veteran can prove that he hasnt lost any of his potency as a bowler.

With the likes of Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla around, it is safe to say that there will be no shortage of competition in the squadand the chinaman bowler will have to grab any chance that comes his way.

IPL career bowling stats