Cricketers Who Proved It’s Never Too Late to Shine: Cricket’s popularity is rapidly on the rise, accompanied by a surge in competition. During this period, numerous players have excelled in domestic cricket but have remained excluded from international play. Notably, players such as Praveen Kumar, Sudeep Tyagi, RP Singh, and Abhimanyu Mithun retired prematurely at the age of 31 due to a lack of opportunities. Interestingly, some players managed to secure their international debuts after retiring.
Cricketers Who Proved It’s Never Too Late to Shine
1. Imran Tahir
Leading our list is Imran Tahir. He represented Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in 1998 but struggled to secure a place in the national team. The leg spinner then pursued county cricket in England with limited success. Later, he moved to South Africa, where he continued to shine in domestic cricket, ultimately making his debut for South Africa in the 2011 World Cup. Tahir’s international career boasts 165 matches and an impressive tally of 293 dismissed batsmen. He debuts at 32 years old.
2. Michael Hussey
Australian cricketer Michael Hussey claims the second spot on our list. Despite making his ODI debut at the age of 28 and his Test debut at 30, Hussey made a substantial impact on international cricket. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s top batsmen. Hussey played 302 matches, accumulating 12,398 runs, including 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries.
3. Devon Conway
Hailing from New Zealand, Devon Conway occupies the third position on our list. Conway began his cricket journey in South Africa, excelling in domestic cricket but never receiving a call-up to represent his country. He relocated to New Zealand at the age of 26 and, after consistently impressing in domestic cricket, made his international debut in November 2020 at the age of 30. The left-handed batsman has played 42 matches, scoring 1,989 runs, with 4 centuries, one double century, and 10 half-centuries to his name.
4. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav secured the fourth spot in our rankings. He debuted in first-class cricket for Mumbai in 2010 but had to wait patiently for his international debut. Despite consistently performing well in domestic cricket and the IPL, he didn’t get the opportunity to represent India until 2021 when he made his T20 International debut against England at the age of 30. Since then, he has been a valuable contributor to the team, playing 47 matches and amassing 1,385 runs, including one century and 11 half-centuries.
5. Harshal Patel
Fast bowler Harshal Patel, much like Suryakumar Yadav, displayed unwavering determination while awaiting his international debut. After consistently impressing in the IPL and domestic cricket, he finally earned his T20 International debut at the age of 31. He is also part of the Indian team selected for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Harshal Patel’s T20 International career includes 23 matches, 26 wickets, and an economy rate of 9.2.
These Cricketers Who Proved It’s Never Too Late to Shine, Imran Tahir and Suryakumar Yadav is prime example that if you work right and don’t lose hope, success will find a way to you..
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