5 legends who made their international debut before their teammate was born

Sachin Tendulkar and Jasprit Bumrah were a part of the same Mumbai Indians playing XI in IPL 2013
Sachin Tendulkar and Jasprit Bumrah were a part of the same Mumbai Indians playing XI in IPL 2013

Cricket has evolved a lot over the last few years. Earlier, Tests and ODIs were the only two forms of this game. However, T20 and T10 cricket have gained massive popularity of late.

The shorter formats provide top-quality entertainment to the fans, the matches do not last long, and veteran players have an opportunity to extend their careers.

The likes of Praveen Tambe, Imran Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Dwayne Bravo, and others have aged like fine wine, featuring in the shorter formats regularly.

This listicle will look at five cricket legends who had already made their international debut even before one of their junior teammates was born.


5. Chris Gayle - International cricket debut in 1999, played with Naseem Shah - born in 2003

Universe Boss Chris Gayle is the most successful player in T20 cricket history. The Caribbean legend has mastered the game's shortest format and aggregated 13,691 runs in 413 T20 matches.

Gayle played his first international match against Team India at Toronto in 1999. Recently, the West Indian opener turned up for the Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League 2021.

During the Gladiators' battle against the Karachi Kings, 18-year-old Naseem Shah and Gayle featured in the same playing XI.

Shah was born on February 15, 2003. Thus, Gayle had earned four years of international cricket experience before his Quetta Gladiators teammate was even born!


4. Shahid Afridi - International cricket debut in 1996 - played with Asitha Fernando - born in 1997

Shahid Afridi captained the Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League after Sarfaraz Ahmed had to pull out of the competition
Shahid Afridi captained the Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League after Sarfaraz Ahmed had to pull out of the competition

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi came into the limelight with his aggressive batting. Afridi made his ODI debut for the Pakistan cricket team in 1996.

He has maintained his fitness well enough and still plays in various T20 leagues.

Last year, Shahid Afridi turned up for the Galle Gladiators in the inaugural Lanka Premier League. His team reached the final, where they lost to the Jaffna Stallions.

Shahid Afridi played a memorable 58-run knock against the Stallions when the two teams met for the first time in LPL 2020. Afridi captained the Galle-based franchise. The Gladiators playing XI also featured Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando, who was born in 1997.

3. Sachin Tendulkar - international cricket debut in 1989 played with Jasprit Bumrah - born in 1993

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He scored 15,921 Test runs, and 18,426 ODI runs for Team India.

Tendulkar represented the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Ricky Ponting, who captained the Mumbai-based franchise in IPL 2013, included Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI for their season opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Bumrah, born in 1993, is one of the top fast bowlers in world cricket right now. The right-arm pacer got the honor of playing with Sachin Tendulkar even though he was born four years after his international debut.

In IPL 2021, Bumrah will feature alongside Sachin's son Arjun Tendulkar.


2. Yuvraj Singh - international cricket debut in 2000 played with Mujeeb ur Rahman - born in 2001

Yuvraj Singh was the hero of Team India's 2011 World Cup win
Yuvraj Singh was the hero of Team India's 2011 World Cup win

Yuvraj Singh played for multiple IPL franchises in his career. He was the skipper of the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the inaugural season. Three years later, the Mohali-based franchise released Singh from their squad.

Ahead of IPL 2018, the Kings XI brought Yuvraj Singh back to the franchise. Although he did not have a memorable season that year, he created a unique record in IPL 2018.

Mujeeb ur Rahman is a T20 star
Mujeeb ur Rahman is a T20 star

The Indian all-rounder, who made his debut in 2000, featured in the same playing XI as Mujeeb ur Rahman, born in 2001. The Afghanistan leg-spinner picked up two wickets in that match against the Delhi Capitals.

Interestingly, when Yuvraj started playing international cricket, Afghanistan Cricket Board was not even an affiliate member of ICC.


1. Parthiv Patel - international debut in August 2002 played with Prayas Ray Barman - born in October 2002

The Royal Challengers Bangalore surprised many fans when they bid for teenage leg-spinner Prayas Ray Barman at IPL 2019 auction. The young bowling all-rounder made his IPL debut against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In his debut match, Prayas was a part of the same XI as Parthiv Patel, who played his first international game for Team India in August 2002, two months before Barman was born.

Barman does not have an IPL contract now.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava