IPL 2018: 5 oldest players to look out for

In IPL 2017, at the age of 44 years and 81 days, Australia's left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg became the oldest player to feature in a match in the history of Indian Premier League. Two years before that, when he was 42 years old, he defied age and churned out some sensational performances for KKR, including a four-fer.

Senior players like these are a proof that the statesmen can also produce effective results in what is perceived as a challenging format. In the forthcoming eleventh edition of India’s biggest T20 extravaganza, here are the 5 players who can defy age and put up match-winning performances.

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Chris Gayle – 38 years old

Chris Gayle’s record of the fastest century in IPL history is still intact, that which came off only 30 balls in IPL 2013. In fact, of the ten fastest centuries scored in the tournament, three belong to the Windies big-hitter. The 38-year-old started his IPL sojourn with Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom his performances were way below the expectations held from him.

However, his performances drastically changed after joining the RCB in 2011, when he ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer with 608 runs. The next two seasons, his performances were even better as he piled up a whopping 733 and 708 runs respectively.

However, the last two seasons were not great for him, but Gayle is known to stun critics when least is expected of him, something that can be expected in IPL 2018 as well.

Gautam Gambhir – 36 years old

Gautam Gambhir, apart from being a terrific IPL captain, has been an equally terrific performer

Gautam Gambhir was a part of his home team Delhi Daredevils for the first three seasons of the IPL before KKR signed him up for $2.5million in 2011. He remained with the Kolkata-based franchise until he chose to leave the franchise in 2018, and re-join the Daredevils.

Along with MS Dhoni, Gambhir is the second most successful IPL captain with two titles, but not just that, his personal performances have been as good. He has piled up a whopping 4132 runs from 148 matches in the tournament’s history of 10 years.

While his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaque Ali Trophy were dismal, you can still expect him to fire on all cylinders in the IPL, a tournament that has been special for him in terms of performances. Given the eager beaver that he has always been, Gambhir doesn’t let age define him. At 36, you can still expect him to hit some sixes out of the park.

Harbhajan Singh – 37 years old

Harbhajan Singh was with the Mumbai Indians from IPL's inaugural season

One of India's most successful off-spin bowlers, the 37-year-old Harbhajan Singh has been leading Mumbai Indians' spin attack since its inception in 2008. He played a crucial role in leading the team to the 2011 Champions League trophy.

Bhajji, as he is fondly called, is no mug with the bat either, and in fact holds the record for the quickest half-century for the Mumbai Indians, that which came off 19 balls in 2015. From 136 matches he has played in the cash-rich league, the veteran bowler has scalped 127 wickets and has also conceded 3,371 runs.

While he longer remains the wicket-taking bowler he once was, his vast experience can help CSK with some valuable inputs.

Yuvraj Singh – 36 years old

Yuvraj Singh's vast experience will be an asset to KXIP

Yuvraj Singh is one of the few players who have played for as many five franchises in the tournament – namely Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. From 120 matches, the veteran southpaw has scored 2587 runs at an average of 25.61.

While he may be completely out of form at present, his vast experience can help KXIP aim for their first title this season. Besides, for a man who can make a grand comeback in life, a comeback to form in IPL can be just a matter of time.

MS Dhoni – 36 years old

CSK fans cannot wait to see MS Dhoni back in action at Chepauk

If there was one cricketer who would be called the face of IPL, it would be none other than former India captain MS Dhoni. Captain Cool led the Chennai Super Kings to two back-to-back IPL titles, apart from achieving several other personal feats in the tournament.

Dhoni, who had become a national sensation in the country after leading the side to the 2007 World T20, was bought by CSK in IPL 2008 at $1.5 million, becoming the costliest player of the inaugural edition. He finished the season with a bang, scoring 414 runs from 16 games at an average of 41.40 and strike rate of 133.54.

Overall, including his two years with the Rising Pune Supergiants, Dhoni has 3561 runs from 159 games. And while neither age nor form is by his side at the moment, he still remains the quickest behind the stumps and the sharpest captain behind an otherwise calm and composed face.