IPL 2020 - 5 veterans who prove age is just a number

The full schedule of the league stage of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, also referred to as IPL 2020, has been released, with the first match between last year’s finalists Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings scheduled to be held on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament will conclude with the final to be held on May 24.

The teams will play each other twice – one at home and one away. The group stages will end on May 17 with the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Like every year, the top four teams from the league will make it to the playoffs. The first and second-placed teams will face each other in the first qualifier, and the third and fourth-placed teams will contest the eliminator.

Over the years, many players have made a big impact in the league. While some have faded away with time, others have remained strong year after year. Here’s a closer analysis of five cricketers who have come up with age-defying performances in the IPL.

#5 Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra

37-year-old leggie Amit Mishra last played for India in 2017. He was unlucky not to have played more for India despite coming up with impressive performances in the limited opportunities that he was presented with. Mishra though remains a force in the IPL.

Also see – IPL 2020 schedule

In 147 matches representing Deccan Chargers, Delhi Capitals, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mishra has 157 wickets to his name at an average of 24.19, a strike rate of 19.75, and an impressive economy rate of 7.35. He is second on the list of all-time leading IPL wicket-takers.

Mishra holds the record for having claimed the most hat-tricks in the IPL. He has three to his name -- the first for Delhi against Deccan Chargers in 2008, the second for Chargers against Kings XI Punjab in 2011, and the third while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Pune Warriors in 2013.

His best season was in 2013 when he scalped 21 victims. However, he has been reasonably effective in the last two as well, picking up 12 wickets at a strike rate of 18.50 in 2018, and 11 at a strike rate of 21.81 in 2019. Mishra was retained by Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2020 auction.

#4 Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir

The veteran leg-spinner was an ageless warrior in the South African team for many years. And, while he has retired from ODIs, Imran Tahir could still possibly make it to the Proteas squad for the World T20 later this year, given his prowess.

Although he will turn 41 in March this year, he was retained by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2020 IPL auction. The move shows how highly Tahir is rated as a match-winning bowler and as a presence in the CSK dressing room.

Starting 2014, Tahir has represented Delhi Daredevils, Rising Pune Supergiant and CSK in the IPL. A late bloomer, he made up for lost time with some fantastic performances. In 55 matches, Tahir has picked up 79 wickets at an average of 20.39 and a strike rate of 15.51, with an economy rate of 7.88.

Tahir was, in fact, the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 edition with 26 wickets in 17 matches at a strike rate of 14.84 and an average of 16.57. He was one of the key reasons behind CSK making it to yet another IPL final.

Like old wine, he seems to be getting better with age.

#3 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle

Universe Boss Chris Gayle may have been in and out of the West Indies team over the past few years. However, he has been more or less a constant fixture in the IPL. In fact, starting 2009, he has featured in every edition of the IPL.

In the 2017, when he managed only 200 runs in nine matches at an average of 22.22, it seemed the maverick West Indian’s IPL days were over. However, Gayle shut his critics by smashing 368 runs in 11 games for Kings XI Punjab in 2008 at a strike rate of 146.03. He was the first centurion of the season, hitting an unbeaten 104 against Sunrisers Hyderabad off 63 balls.

In the 2019 season as well, he continued his good run for KXIP, with 490 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 153.60. It was not surprising thus that the franchise retained him ahead of the 2020 auction.

Overall, 40-year-old Gayle has played 125 IPL matches, and has 4,484 runs to his name at a strike rate of 151.02 and an average of 41.13 with six hundreds and 28 fifties. He holds the record for the highest individual score in the IPL. Gayle smashed 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013. He has also hit the most sixes -- 326.

Apart from KXIP and RCB, Gayle has also represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

#2 Shane Watson

Shane Watson batting with a bloodied knee in IPL 2019 final

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson’s longevity in the IPL can be gauged from the fact that he was the player of the tournament when an unfancied Rajasthan Royals lifted the title in the inaugural edition in 2008.

Last year, he batted with a bloodied knee in the final against Mumbai Indians, and almost pulled Chennai Super Kings to victory with a splendid 80 from 59 balls. In the 2018 IPL final, he blasted an unbeaten 117 from 57 as CSK emerged victorious after returning from a two-season suspension. Not surprisingly, CSK retained the 38-year-old Watson ahead of the auction.

Barring 2009, Watson has featured in every edition of the IPL. In 134 matches, he has 3,575 runs to his credit at an average of 31.08 and a strike rate of 139.53 with four hundreds and 19 fifties. With the ball, he has picked up 92 wickets at an average of 29.15 and a strike rate of 22.05.

Apart from CSK and RR, the veteran all-rounder has also represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

#1 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga

The fine line between victory and defeat is very small. Last season, Lasith Malinga could very well have been the villain for Mumbai Indians in the final against CSK, having conceded 49 runs in his four overs, 20 of them coming in one over. But, what people remember is him defending nine in the last over, and trapping Shardul Thakur lbw last ball to clinch the contest for MI by one run.

In crunch situations, nothing beats experience, which explains why MI skipper Rohit Sharma went to Malinga despite him having had a forgettable day till then. The performance in the final over was a reassurance of sorts for Mumbai to retain 36-year-old Malinga ahead of the auction.

Malinga has an exceptional IPL record. In 122 games, he has 170 wickets at an average of 19.80 and a strike rate of 16.62. In fact, he is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the T20 league. The Sri Lankan slinger has also maintained a decent overall economy rate of 7.14.

If you look at his performances in the last couple of seasons (2017 and 2019), he has picked up 11 and 16 wickets respectively. In 2019, he claimed two four-wicket hauls to reiterate that he still has it in him to deliver, and the last over in the final will become a part of IPL folklore.