IPL 2021: MS Dhoni’s CSK still the oldest and Rajasthan Royals the youngest in average players’ age in IPL. MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will again have the oldest players while Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be the youngest team in the IPL 2021 in terms of the average age of the players in the squad.
CSK has been called a Dad’s Army due to aging players in the squad. While they cut down the average age to 30 in the IPL 2021 auction from 31, with five players over 35 years of age in the squad, the two-time champions will still have some of the oldest players in the league.
RR on the other hand has the youngest team in the tournament. After finishing at the bottom of the points table last year, Rajasthan overhauled the squad, building the team around a young captain in Sanju Samson. From the IPL 2021 auction, RR bought some young blood barring Chris Morris (33), making the team’s average age 25.41.
CSK’s old guns
With CSK’s abysmal performance in the IPL 2020, where they finished seventh in an eight-team competition, the thought was that the team management would go for an overhaul, beginning with an aging Dhoni.
But CSK decided against tinkering too much with the team, retaining the core. Instead of bringing in some young players who could rejig the team’s dynamics, CSK bought Moeen Ali (33), Robin Uthappa (35), Cheteshwar Pujara (33), and Krishnappa Gowtham (32), further giving importance to experience over young blood.
The young recruits — K Bhagath Varma (22), C Hari Nishanth (24), and Harishankar Reddy (22) — are yet to make a name for themselves in the domestic circuit. Hence, they are unlikely to get a chance. But with Imran Tahir (41), Dhoni (39), Dwayne Bravo (37), Faf du Plessis (36), and Uthappa in the squad, CSK will continue to be a Dad’s Army.
Youngblood
Rajasthan Royals’ squad overhaul included releasing players over 30 years of age, including the likes of Uthappa, Steve Smith (31), Varun Aaron (31), and Anirudha Joshi (33), helping them reduce the team’s average age. RR has only four players who are above 30 years of age with the oldest member being Morris at 33.
Punjab Kings, Mumba Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have an average age of 27 while Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals have an average age of 28.
Team’s average age in the IPL 2021:
Chennai Super Kings: 30
Kolkata Knight Riders: 28
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 28
Delhi Capitals: 28
Punjab Kings: 27
Mumbai Indians: 27
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 27
Rajasthan Royals: 25