IPL Auction 2020: 3 oldest players in the draft

Kolkata will play host to the IPL 2020 auctions on 19 December. With the next auction set to be a mega one, the one-day affair this Thursday will see franchises handing out one-year contracts to the players, with the focus chiefly set on the 2020 edition of the league.

After circulating the list of 971 players who had initially signed up for the event, the final shortlist was obtained from the franchises and now 332 players will go under the hammer on auction day. However, as per IPL's squad restrictions, a maximum of 73 players can return with a contract from the event. Out of these, 29 spots belong to overseas cricketers.

Barring a few franchises, the rest of the squads seem settled for the upcoming season. Aside from tying up the unfastened ends and signing a couple of backups, the policy for most teams at the auctions is likely to be straightforward.

Although initially pegged to be a younger player's forte, the older and experienced cricketers have also made the T20 format their own with some sensational displays. The latest example of that was the title-winning campaign executed by Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

At the upcoming auctions too, there is a slew of experienced professionals in the draft. Although age may not always be an asset in this format, players who are at the fag end of their careers could have something to offer for their respective sides.

In this article, we take a look at the three oldest players in the auction pool (arranged in descending order of their age).

#3 Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan

At 37, Yusuf Pathan is the third oldest cricketer in the auction pool and the likeliest to bag a contract from this list.

In the first-ever edition of the competition Pathan picked up eight wickets and scored 435 runs, which still remains his best performance in the tournament. But after a spectacular start to his IPL career, Pathan has been unable to replicate that form in recent years.

Also see - IPL Auction

The Baroda all-rounder's form has gone downhill quite sharply in the last couple of seasons. While 10 games yielded just 40 runs and no wickets for him in the 2019 edition, the statistics were slightly better in the year before that: the big-hitter collected 260 runs from 15 matches.

An experienced player like Pathan must contribute more for teams to consider him in the playing XI. Considering he is almost at the fag end of his career, very few franchises would be willing to invest in him for the upcoming season.

A few settled sides such as Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals might offer a ray of hope to the 2007 World T20 winner. If utilized efficiently and given the freedom to express himself, the 37-year-old can still play a few match-winning knocks.

#2 Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed, 38, is the oldest overseas cricketer in the draft. Once considered as Shane Warne's replacement in the Australian team, Ahmed's international sojourn never got going. Apart from a couple of games, the player's major cricketing activities were restricted to the domestic competitions.

Ahmed has picked three wickets apiece in international T20s and ODIs so far.

Having featured in various T20 leagues across the globe, the Pakistan-born Australian leg-spinner is a fairly experienced cricketer in the format. However, he has rarely if ever competed at the highest level in the past.

At 38, Ahmed's skills may not find takers, as younger and more successful wrist-spinners are available in the draft. With teams looking to sign quality overseas cricketers to their squad, Ahmed is likely to go unsold at the auction.

#1 Pravin Tambe

Pravin Tambe

48-year-old Mumbai leg-spinner Pravin Tambe is the oldest player in the auction pool. If he does find a team for IPL 2020, Tambe will be the oldest cricketer to ever be part of the competition.

However, it is doubtful that any team would want to spend on a player who is approaching his 50s. Having not played a single match in the last three seasons, Tambe might have already seen the doors closed on his IPL career.

Tambe's career graph is striking when compared to any average cricketer. He had his breakthrough season in 2014 when he picked up 15 wickets in 13 games for Rajasthan Royals - when he was 41 years old.

After an underwhelming show in the following seasons, opportunities became scarce for the player. At a time when cricketers are taking up a role in the dug-out in their early 40s, choosing a 48-year-old many not be the wisest decision for most teams.