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Pravin Tambe – Oldest Player In IPL History
Pravin Vijay Tambe born 8 October 1971, is an Indian cricketer who has been picked by the KKR - Kolkata. Tambe became the Oldest player in IPL to play in the IPL when he made his debut at the age of 41 for the RR - Rajasthan against the DC - Delhi and he will also be the oldest IPL player in history when he takes the white ball in his hand in the 2020 edition at the age of 48. Presently, Tambe is also the captain of the DY Patil Sports Academy B team in New Bombay. He became the oldest player ever to be sold at the IPL 2020 auctions at the age of 48 . He made his Caribbean Cricket League debut on 26 August 2020 for TKR with 1 wicket and a maiden over.
Claim to fame
Pravin Tambe shot to overnight fame from anonymity after he made his Indian Premier League debut at the age of 41 for RR - Rajasthan in the 2013 season. Before his inclusion in the league, Tambe had never played any first-class cricket but had some sort of reputation in club cricket.
Tambe went on to become the leading wicket-taker in the Champions League T20 after making an amusing IPL debut, later that year. He scalped 12 wickets in the season at an average of 6.5. These performances eventually earned him his maiden Ranji call-up for the Mumbai team during the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy. In the 2014 IPL season, Tambe pulled a brilliant hat-trick against KKR - Kolkata, the first of that season and 12th, overall. His consistent performances in the T20 circuit makes him a crucial part of the RR - Rajasthanteam.
Formative years
Pravin started off as a young fast bowler, but his Orient shipping Ajay Kadam asked him to bowl leg-spin. This is where Pravin’s story took off. He became an integral part of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana team where his leg-spin antics impressed the likes of Sandeep Patil who rated his flipper highly according to Pravin’s father Vijay in an interview.
IPL Career
Pravin has the most intriguing story to tell about his career. A cricketer who had never played for his city, gotpickedto play in the Indian Premier League. "For someone who has not even got a chance to play first-class cricket and has worked hard all these years in Dr HD Kanga Memorial Cricket League, it is terrific story" says Rahul Dravid, his chief mentor at RR - Rajasthan.
Former teammate and Mumbai selector Abey Kuruvilla also revealed that Tambe has only reached a peak in the past 8 years, ever since the time Pravin switched from bowling pace to leg spin. The Mumbai-based bowler also received the Golden Wicket award for taking most wickets in the Champions League 2013.
Also Read:- IPL Purple Cap Holders
He also took a thrilling hat-trick against the KKR - Kolkata on 5th May 2014 in Ahmedabad which also got him the man of the match award. The leg-spinner also got the purple cap for the first time in his career by becoming the highest wicket taker in IPL 2014 till the 25th match of the season.He was bought by the SRH - Hyderabad teamin February 2017, to play in the 2017 Indian Premier League for INR 10 Lakhs. Interestingly, he was bought by the KKR - Kolkata in the IPL 2020 auctions ahead of the 2020 edition.
Tambe went on to become the first bowler to take 10 wickets at an average. 5.90) from just four matches in the Champions League T20. Tambe alsobecame first and only bowler to bowl 15 overs in the competition without conceding even a single six. Tambe's economy rate of 3.93 stands best amongst the bowlers who have claimed five wickets or more in the tournament.
You’ll have to give it to the man for his guts. He is at a age where people contemplate taking up a coaching job, but the guy wants to play on till he can and that kind of enthusiasm is rare. He is 48 years old and will be walk-in to the IPL 2020 season as the oldest player in IPL competition’s history. It will be amusing to see what follows.
