T20I is looked at as a format for players to elongate their careers. An innings of 20 overs allows players who are not conventionally fit for the other two formats. There have been many players who have played in their 40s in international T20 matches. Participating in leagues all over the world allows many players to keep their bodies fit enough for an international match. But do you know who is the oldest player to play a T20I match?
Osman Goker
Osman Goker is the oldest player to play a T20I match. Goker represented Turkey against Romania in 2019 in the Continental Cup. Interestingly, Goker played only one international match in his career. Goker was aged 59 years and 181 days old at the time of the match.
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Romania vs Turkey, Continental Cup, 2019
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After winning the toss, Turkey opted to field first. The Turkish bowlers provided a positive start for their team by dismissing three of the Romanian batters for just 61 runs. Sivakumar Periyalwar batting at number five stole the game from Turkey by scoring 105 runs in just 40 balls hitting 12 fours and 6 sixes. The Turkish bowlers lacked accuracy as they leaked 36 runs as extras including 31 as wides. The target for Turkey was 227 runs but they did not have any answers against the Romanian attack which was too good for them. Eight of the ten Turkish dismissed batters scored runs in single-digits. Only Mehmat Sert and Ali Kose scored in double-digits scoring 16 and 15 runs respectively. Osman Goker batted at number 11 and scored one run off the only delivery he faced. He remained not out as Turkey was bowled out 53 runs in 13 overs.
Oldest players in T20I
Here are the top 10 oldest players to play in a T20I match:
| Player | Opposition | Age | Match date |
| Osman Goker (Turkey) | Romania | 59 years 181 days | 29th August, 2019 |
| Cengiz Akyuz (Turkey) | Luxembourg | 57 years 89 days | 29th August, 2019 |
| Christian M. Rocca (Gibraltar) | Romania | 57 years 67 days | 14th May, 2022 |
| Serdar Kansoy (Turkey) | Austria | 57 years 56 days | 31st August, 2019 |
| James Walton Nathaniel Moses (Bostwana) | Tanzania | 56 years 91 days | 7th November, 2021 |
| Mark Harry Oman (Slovenia) | Luxembourg | 55 years 328 days | 30th July, 2022 |
| Hasan Sabit Alta (Turkey) | Austria | 54 years 98 days | 31st August, 2019 |
| Panagiotis Magafas (Greece) | Sweden | 53 years 92 days | 18th July, 2022 |
| Glenn Miller (Cook Islands) | Fiji | 52 years 305 days | 10th September, 2022 |
| Tony Whiteman (Luxembourg) | Romania | 52 years 104 days | 5th September, 2021 |
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