Sachin, Misbah, Tambe, Dilshan, Hogg: All have proved that age is just a number for them

“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” this was the quote given by Hall of fame pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige. In simple words, as long as you are enjoying the game, age will be just a number.

For many players be it in any sports, age is just a number. As we know, the older the wine, the better it is to taste; in same way for these players, they have just become better with age. In cricket, we have seen players like Misbah Ul Haq (age 41 – Pakistan), Pravin Tambe (age 44 – Rajasthan Royals), T Dilshan (age 38 –Sri Lanka), Brad Hogg (age 44 – Kolkata Knight Riders) defy the norms.

In the modern era, when there are hundreds of talented youth waiting for that golden opportunity to get into the team, players who are about to retire still show that spark and hunger to be a part of team. Many times when such players don’t play well in one or two series, the media highlights with articles suggesting the player is past his peak. But then defying all odds, the players always prove the media wrong. They justify their selection and also help groom the young talented players.

Many of the players hardly care about their growing age or accomplishing more achievements to their names to their name; it is simply the love for the sports that binds them. The best example is of Sachin Tendulkar. After winning the World Cup in 2011, Sachin could have retired from the game, because he had got all the awards any individual could think of in the game of cricket. Still Sachin continued to play for India at the highest level and focussed on improving his game.

This just shows how much commitment and passionate all the players are about their game. All these players have made us believe in the quote “We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”