Cricket is a sport that requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and passion. Many cricketers start their journey at a young age and pursue their dream of playing for their country. However, some cricketers have a different story. They made their international debut after getting married, which is quite rare in the cricketing world. Here are some examples of such cricketers who defied the odds and achieved their goals.
1.Pravin Tambe
Pravin Tambe is a remarkable example of a cricketer who made his debut after marriage. He is the first and only cricketer to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the age of 41. He was selected by Rajasthan Royals in 2013 and impressed everyone with his leg-spin bowling. He also received the Golden Wicket Award for taking the most wickets in the Champions League 2013. He later played for other IPL teams like Gujarat Lions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kolkata Knight Riders. He also made his T20 international debut for India in 2020 at the age of 48, becoming the oldest player to do so.
2.Stuart Binny
Stuart Binny is an Indian all-rounder who made his Test debut in 2014 against England at the age of 30 years. He is the son of former Indian cricketer Roger Binny. He married Mayanti Langer, a popular sports journalist and anchor, in 2012. He is best known for his record-breaking bowling performance in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2014, where he took 6 wickets for 4 runs, the best figures by an Indian bowler in ODIs. He also played in the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup for India.
3.Naman Ojha
Naman Ojha is a former Indian wicket-keeper and batsman who made his Test debut in 2011 against Sri Lanka at the age of 28 years. He had a long domestic career, playing for Madhya Pradesh and Central Zone. He also played in the IPL for teams like Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He married his childhood sweetheart Ankita Sharma in 2011. He scored a half-century in his only Test match and also played one ODI and two T20Is for India.
4.Robin Singh
Robin Singh is a former Indian all-rounder who made his Test debut in 1989 against West Indies at the age of 35 years. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to India to pursue his cricket career. He played only one Test match but had a successful ODI career, playing 136 matches for India between 1989 and 2001. He married his wife Sujata in 1986. He was known for his aggressive batting, athletic fielding, and useful medium-pace bowling. He later became the coach of the IPL team Mumbai Indians and the Indian national team.
5. Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav, an Indian all-rounder known for his aggressive batting and useful off-spin, made his ODI debut in 2014 at the age of 30. He played a key role in several victories with his innovative stroke play and handy bowling, especially in limited-overs cricket. Jadhav’s versatility and tactical acumen made him a valuable asset to the team. He got married to Snehal Jadhav in 2011.
