4 players aged less than 35 who are playing for India Champions in World Championship of Legends ft. Pawan Negi
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) got underway yesterday (July 3) at Edgbaston. Home team England Champions suffered a defeat in the opening match against the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions squad. Later in the day, Pakistan Champions started their campaign with a five-wicket win against Australia Champions.
As the name suggests, the World Championship of Legends tournament majorly comprises retired cricketers. Most of the players in this competition retired long back and are in their 40s now.
While there are some players aged close to 50 as well, there are four players in the India Champions team who are less than 35 years old. Here's a list of the four names.
#1 Pawan Negi is playing for India Champions in World Championship of Legends 2024
Former Indian all-rounder Pawan Negi made his T20I debut for the nation in the Asia Cup 2016. He played just a solitary game against the UAE, where he bowled a spell of 1/16 in three overs. Quite surprisingly, Negi never got another opportunity to play for the Indian team.
He continued to play in the IPL, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. However, after 2019, none of the IPL franchises picked him in their playing XIs as well.
The Delhi-based all-rounder announced retirement from all formats of domestic cricket soon after. At the age of 31, he is now playing for India Champions in World Championship of Legends.
#2 Saurabh Tiwary
When Saurabh Tiwary smashed massive sixes with his long-hair look for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2010, many fans felt that India have found their left-handed MS Dhoni. Tiwary even broke into the Indian team and played three ODIs for the nation.
Although he scored 49 runs at a strike rate of 87.5 and never got dismissed in his ODI career, Tiwary did not receive more chances to play. His last international appearance for India came in an ODI against New Zealand in 2010.
Tiwary played his final IPL match for the Mumbai Indians in 2021. Earlier this year, he retired from domestic cricket and is now playing for India Champions at the age of 34.
#3 Rahul Shukla
Rahul Shukla never represented India at the international level. He played domestic cricket for Jharkhand, while in the IPL, he turned up for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils.
The express pacer has quit domestic cricket now. At the age of 33, he has signed up with the India Champions and is playing in the inaugural World Championship of Legends.
#4 Gurkeerat Singh Mann
Just two years ago, Gurkeerat Singh Mann was a part of the Gujarat Titans team that won the IPL trophy. Singh played three ODIs for India in the away series against Australia in early 2016. In those three games, he scored 13 runs and bowled 10 wicketless overs.
He never earned a recall to the Indian team despite some impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. The 34-year-old retired from domestic cricket this year and made himself available for India Champions in WCL 2024.