India has emerged as a nation of immense glory when it comes to the game of cricket. From recognizing the youngest of talents like Sachin Tendulkar to Yashasvi Jaiswal, they have often given chances to several players who have attained their prime much later in their careers at older ages.
Especially with the ODI being the format not demanding as much as the T20 format, several players who have proved to be fit at later ages have made their debut in the format for India. Recently, Varun Chakravarthy, the KKR star who made a comeback to India’s T20 side, has been unstoppable with the ball.
Chakravarthy has played 18 T20I matches and picked 33 T20I wickets for India with an average of less than 15 (14.57) and a career economy of 7.02. After having had a remarkable comeback, he has finally made his ODI debut for India, featuring as the third spinner, replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the second ODI against England at Cuttack and picked his maiden international ODI wickets as well.
The spinner is likely also in contention for the ICC Champions Trophy in case ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah misses out.
Here are 5 oldest cricketers to have made their ODI debut for India:
5. Syed Abid Ali—32 years and 307 days
5 decades ago, during the initial years of independent Indian cricket, former Indian fast bowler Syed Abid Ali made his ODI debut against England in 1974, when he was 32 years and 307 days old.
In his career, which spanned not more than 5 ODI matches, Syed Abid Ali picked 7 wickets at an economy of 3.33.
4. Dilip Doshi—32 years, 350 days
Left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi is among the well-known names of Indian cricket, especially in the test format; however, the player was aged 32 years and 350 days when he made his debut against Australia in one day at the iconic MCG in 1980.
Doshi, who began with a 3-fer on debut, went on to play in 15 ODI games for India, also picking an impressive 22 wickets, averaging over 23.81, and an economy of 3.96.
3. Ajit Wadekar—33 years, 103 days
Former Indian skipper Ajit Wadekar made his One Day International debut at the age of 33 years and 103 days; his maiden appearance for India was against England in 1974.
He not only made his debut but was also the skipper of the Indian side in the match and led the Indian innings from the front with 67 runs scored from just 82 balls. The Indian skipper played only 2 ODI games and eventually ended with 73 runs at an average of 36.50.
2. Varun Chakravarthy—33 years, 164 days
Considering modern-day cricket, Varun Chakravarthy is the oldest player to have made his debut in the limited-overs format at such an old age. Chakravarthy, who is 33 years and 164 days old on the 9th of February 2025, made his debut against England at Cuttack.
Chakravarthy has had a short List A career with 59 wickets from 23 games. Having a remarkable T20 series backed by his magnificent List-A numbers, he will be one to watch out for in the ODI series as well, where he has already picked his maiden wicket.
1. Farokh Engineer—36 years, 138 days
One of India’s oldest legendary cricketers, among the big names of Indian cricket in the 1970s, Farokh Engineer, the wicket-keeper batsman, made his ODI debut at age 36 years and 138 days against England at Leeds in 1974.
In his debut match, he scored 32 runs, while in his short-lived ODI career, he played in 5 ODI matches and scored 114 runs while averaging 38 with an unbeaten 54 against East Africa in a World Cup match.
