The Chennai Super Kings have been always known to pack their squad with experience- relying on tried and tested warhorses. Hence it is no wonder that CSK is one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
They have been often labeled as being ‘Dad’s Army’ by the critics, but standout performances by the Chennai based squad over the years have always silenced them. Opportunities for the newer players having raw talent in the franchise have been few, but there are instances where youngsters have made the chances provided count.
As with every IPL franchise, Chennai Superkings has acted as the launchpad for quite a few youngsters, with some making it big while the others faded away. Here, we will look at the 3 youngest bowlers to have taken a wicket for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
#3. Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Aged 20 years and 141 days, Rajvardhan Hangargekar debuted for the Chennai based franchise against the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023. He ended up taking 3 wickets against the defending champions. His unusual bowling action surprised many which was ably supported by his express pace.
Among his scalps were Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha and Sai Sudarshan. It’s still early days for him and he has a long way to go. He has to protect his body from injuries and maintain his lethality and add more weapons to his inventory. If he successfully does that, he can be an asset for his franchise and for India.
#2 Matheesha Pathirana
At the age of 19 years and 148 days, Sri Lankan Matheesha Pathirana debuted for the Super Kings last year against the Gujarat Titans.
Owing to him having similar skills as Lasith Malinga, Matheesha is known as ‘Baby Malinga’. He is one of the few bowlers to have taken a wicket off his first ball on debut in IPL.
#1 Ankit Rajpoot
At 19 years and 123 days, Ankit Rajpoot is the youngest bowler to have taken a wicket for the Chennai Super Kings. He achieved the feat against the Mumbai Indians in 2013, when he dismissed Ricky Ponting.
Despite owing to his raw pace and seam, he somehow failed to make big grounds in the offing and fizzled away to oblivion. However, as they say ‘live for the moment’, dismissing Punter is no cheap trick. Ankit bagged that historic feat that he can always tell stories about.
