Top 7 active T20 cricketers in the World aged more than 35 

It is often said that T20 cricket is a young man's game. But you don't need to look too far behind to see that experience counts too. Chennai Super Kings won the IPL 2018 in dramatic fashion despite a squad full of players on the wrong side of 30.

The average age of their squad was a topic of discussion throughout the course of the tournament. But their title win would have silenced a lot of critics who had written them off at the start of the tournament, proving that age is not necessarily a deterrent when it comes to the shortest format of the game.

Experience has its own place, especially in the T20 cricket, which might not necessarily be the most physically demanding but has more frequent high-pressure situations where you would want your players to hold their nerves and deliver when it matters the most, experience does count.

Of course, as MS Dhoni rightly said in one of the press conferences, you can't field old cricketers who are injury-prone and expect them to win tournaments all the time. Fitness is the key and there has to be a right balance between experienced cricketers who can win you matches, are safe fielders and are fit enough to last the entire tournament.

Having said that, let's look at 7 of the top T20 cricketers aged above 35 years as of today and who are still active playing some form of competitive cricket, even if they have retired from the international level.

Not surprisingly, some of them are part of the triumphant CSK squad of IPL 2018. These cricketers are still fit and good enough to be part of any top T20 side and have the ability to win cricket matches on their own.

#7 Mitchell Johnson (36 years)

Mitchell Johnson retired from international

cricket,

but is still a force to reckon in T20 franchise cricket

Mitchell Johnson might have retired from international cricket in 2015, but he still continues to play franchise cricket around the world. The 6 feet tall left arm quick from down under is perhaps most well-known for his fiery spells of fast bowling in Ashes 2013-14, where he tormented the English batsman with short balls and was the single-biggest influence in Australia winning the Test series 5-0.

Although Johnson had a forgettable IPL season this year, you don't need to look far behind to known what a threat he can still be in T20 cricket.

It was the final of IPL 2017 when the Rising Pune Supergiant needed just 11 runs to win off the last over with 7 wickets in hand. Manoj Tiwary swept him for a boundary off the very first ball and brought the equation down to 7 runs off 5 balls.

The match was done an dusted for RPS, but it was Mitchell Johnson with his calm head on his shoulders who managed to defend the total eventually taking Mumbai Indians to their 3rd IPL title win. A perfect example of why experience matters in crunch situations.

#6 Shoaib Malik (36 years)

Shoaib Malik has been an excellent T20 batsman wherever he's played

One of the most underrated T20 players ever, Shoaib Malik has an excellent record for a middle-order batsman in T20s. He has scored more than 7500 runs in the shortest format and has a healthy average of 37.52 runs per innings.

Malik started his career as an off-spinner but later became a batting all-rounder and has played at almost every number in the batting order including opening the Tests and ODIs. In the shortest format of the game, he's especially dangerous where he has often won the game for his teams single-handedly.

#5 Imran Tahir (39 years)

Imran Tahir is still a vital member of the South African team in limited overs cricket

At 39, Imran Tahir is still a certainty in limited overs cricket for South Africa, especially in T20 cricket. The wily wrist-spinner renowned for his unique celebration style where he often runs from the pitch down to the boundary boasts of an enviable record in T20 cricket.

He has picked 236 wickets in T20 cricket at an average of 21.77 runs per wicket and an acceptable economy of 7.2 runs per over.

Tahir is the first CSK player in our list and although he had a mediocre season with them picking 6 wickets in 6 games, he played a key role for them in their game against RCB, where we picked up AB De Villiers and Corey Anderson back to back and stall their progress in what could have otherwise been an unreachable total to chase.

#4 Brendon McCullum (36 years)

The explosive Kiwi continues to be an asset for any T20 side

The man who started the first season of the IPL back in 2008 in his trademark explosive style with a blazing 158 not out is an absolute T20 legend. The explosive Kiwi retired from all forms of international cricket back in 2015 but continues to play franchise cricket around the world. He has scored 9000+ runs in T20s at an average of 30.7 runs per innings and a strike rate of 137.81.

No wonder even three years after his retirement from international cricket, he still was picked to play in the IPL this year.

Apart from being an opener who can give a flying start to his team, McCullum is an excellent fielder even at the age of 36 and continues to man the boundary rope. His trademark scoop shot which we first played many years ago, remains one of the most iconic cricket shots ever.

#3 Shane Watson (37 years)

Shane Watson was at his explosive best in IPL 2018

At 37, few would have expected Shane Watson to produce the performances he did in the recently concluded IPL.

He scored 555 runs for CSK at a strike rate of 154.59 including a blistering 117 not out in the finals which took the game away from SRH. Many would remember that he was playing with a hamstring injury and had a difficulty running, but managed to still score at a strike rate of 205 courtesy those monstrous sixes.

Watson retired from international cricket in 2016, but continues to play in T20 franchise cricket. In fact, it was probably his performance in the BBL earlier this year that must have prompted CSK to buy him in the auction despite his below-par IPL season last year with RCB.

Watson doesn't bowl as much now but has picked 215 wickets from 273 games in T20 cricket at an economy of 7.9 runs per over. In his heydays, Watson was the number 1 all-rounder for Australia across formats. But even after his retirement, he still is one of those players who can play the opposition out of the game, when on song.

#2 Chris Gayle (38 years)

Chris Gayle is not finished yet

Rightly known as the Universe boss, Chris Gayle is without a doubt the best T20 batsman of all time. The numbers are mind-boggling. He has scored 11,000+ runs in T20 cricket at an average of 40.61 and a staggering strike rate of 148.57.

It was thus surprising when he initially found no-takers in the IPL auction earlier this year. He remained unsold for 2 rounds before KXIP snapped him up for a bargain.

You may argue that at 38, he can't cover ground as much and isn't the best of runners between the wickets, but you don't need him to run if can give you all those numbers above dealing in sixes, do you?

His 175 not out from 66 balls remains the highest score in T20 cricket ever and is not likely to be broken anytime soon, except perhaps by his own self. Chris Gayle continues to be one of those players who can still bat the opposition out of the game any day.

#1 MS Dhoni (36 years)

MS Dhoni is still the best finisher in T20 cricket

At almost 37, MS Dhoni remains one of the fittest cricketers around the world. He retired from Test cricket back in 2014 but continues to play for India in the shorter formats.

In the recently concluded IPL, he led the Chennai Super Kings to victory despite being written off during the auctions for picking a so-called 'Daddy's army'. What impressed the most was his batting though. He had one of his best IPL seasons ever and scored 455 runs at an average of 75.83 per innings and a strike rate of 150.66.

He has scored 6000+ runs in T20 cricket at an average of 38.42 and a strike rate of 136.1. Often called the fastest hands behind the stumps, Dhoni has pulled off 73 stumpings in T20 cricket and has often turned the match in his team's favour.

One of the shrewdest minds in world cricket, MS Dhoni may not be the captain of the Indian team anymore, but continues to remain an invaluable asset for the team with his inputs to Virat Kohli in the shorter format.