5 oldest Indian cricketers to have played a Test match

When it comes to the question of the oldest cricketers to have played for India in Test cricket then India is definitely not in the league of many of the other nations. For instance, England’s Wilfred Rhodes played his last Test match at the age of 52 years and 180 days, while Australia’s Bert Ironmonger hung up his boots at the age of just over 50.

That being said, the upper limit for India might not be as spectacular but it is still interesting to have a look at some of the oldest players to have played a Test match for India. Although exhaustive data in this regard is not available from the earliest days of Indian cricket, one can be fairly certain that these 5 cricketers were the oldest ones to ever turn out in a Test match for India.

#5 Erapalli Prasanna - 38 years, 163 days

He remains one of the greatest spin bowlers to have ever played the game but the 1978 tour of Pakistan brought about a cruel end to India’s famous spin attack and Erapalli Prasanna’s career ended following India’s limp defeat in the 2nd Test at Lahore. In that Test match, India lost by 8 wickets and Prasanna went wicketless.

However, at the age of 38 years and 157 days, he became one of the oldest ever cricketers to have ever turned out for India in a Test match. He had had a wonderful career till then and had been responsible for many famous victories, which is why his last Test performance should not in any way discount his achievements as a cricketer.

In his 49 Test career spanning almost 16 years, he picked up 189 wickets at an average of 30.38 and reigned as one of the world’s premier spinners.

#4 Rahul Dravid - 39 years 13 days

Rahul Dravid was in superb touch as he scored 3 centuries during India’s tour of England in 2011

The former Indian great is among the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game and one of the big reasons why Rahul Dravid played for around 16 years was that India found it hard to unearth his replacement.

Even in his final year as a Test player, Dravid was in superb touch as he scored 3 centuries during India’s doomed tour of England in 2011 and it was only natural that he was a part of the touring party to Australia later on in the year.

In a series in which no Indian batsman did much, Rahul Dravid played his last Test at Adelaide at the age of 39 years and 13 days. In the process, he became one of the oldest cricketers to have represented the country in Tests.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar - 40 years and 204 days

Sachin Tendulkar scored 74 in his final innings and signed off as one of cricket's greatest ever

Great cricketers usually have long careers and Sachin Tendulkar epitomised in the best way possible. He started off in Test cricket as a 16-year-old and by the time he played his final Test match in 2013, he became one of the oldest cricketers to represent India in a Test match. He remains the youngest ever Indian Test debutante as well.

His final Test match was a festival of sorts as India and indeed the rest of the cricketing world bade farewell to the best batsman since Donald Bradman. Tendulkar’s final appearance came in his hometown Mumbai and when he played that game he was 40 years and 204 days old. He scored 74 in his final innings and signed off from professional cricket as one of its greatest ever.

#2 C K Nayadu - 40 years and 289 days

C K Nayadu continued to play first-class cricket until the age of 69

He was one of the earliest stars of Indian cricket and in fact, C K Nayadu was the team’s captain when the country played its first Test match back in 1932. He only played 7 Test matches for India but that was largely due to the fact that the country did not get Test status during the time when he was a younger player.

That being said, he was one of the best cricketers in the cricketing circles in India and was known for his belligerent stroke-play. He was also one of India’s oldest ever Test players when he turned out for the team at the Oval in 1936 at the age of 40 years and 289 days. India lost the Test match by 9 wickets but Nayadu was India’s top scorer in the 2nd innings with a superb 81. He continued to play first-class cricket for India until the age of 69 (not a misprint).

#1 Vinoo Mankad - 41 years and 305 days

Vinoo Mankad is the oldest cricketer to represent India in Test cricket

Before Kapil Dev came along, it was Vinoo Mankad who was the original all-around superstar of Indian cricket and remained one of the team’s pre-eminent players throughout the course of his career. Mankad was almost wholly responsible for India’s first ever Test win in 1952 when he picked up 12 wickets against England with his left-arm spin. He was such an excellent cricketer that it comes as no surprise that he enjoyed a long career and became the oldest cricketer to ever represent India in Test cricket.

His career spanned around 13 years from 1946 to 1959 and on his last appearance against the West Indies at New Delhi he was 41 years and 305 days old. His powers as a cricketer had waned and in a drawn game, he picked up no wickets (West Indies batted once). On the batting front, Mankad made 21 in the first innings and duck in the second.