They say life begins at 40 but in the world of sport, well, that is the time one usually slows down. At the same time people say age is just a number. And in sports, people are proving it at the drop of a hat. But what if you are a really late bloomer. Like if you only make it big after crossing 40? Well, that is the story of Pravin Tambe.
Tambe loved cricket from his early days and wanted to be a fast bowler. But on advice from one of his skippers he took up spin bowling. It proved to be the right decision in the long run. But for Tambe, cricket was more of a hobby than a serious profession. He played at club level, office tournaments and low-level domestic competitions plying his trade and making sort of a name for himself.?
At 41, things took a turn for the better. Without having any First Class experience, he was picked to play in IPL 2013 for RR. He was the oldest player to make his debut in the history of the competition. He had a great run as RR finished 3rd in that edition. Later that year, he took the most in the CLT20 and received the Golden Wicket which was the award given for achieving that feat. Amazingly he had peaked only in the last 8 years since making the shift to spin.?
IPL 2014 saw him take a hat-trick vs KKR. In 2017 he was bought by SRH and finally 2020 saw him roped in by KKR. At 48, he became the oldest played to be sold at the auction. His IPL success also saw him enter the Mumbai side. Tambe made his First Class debut at 42. Later on in the T20 league, he became the first to take a hat-trick.?
He is as fit as a fiddle and has the enthusiasm of a 20-year-old. By his own admission, age has never been a factor. So expect some good performances by the man in the 2020 edition. His leg spin has baffled many in the past, he can do it again.?
So for Tambe life really did begin after he crossed 40. From the shadows he has stepped into the light. So can he go on till 50? Why not? Nobody expected him to be here now, so what's another couple of years? Let's wait and watch. He may have bloomed late, but boy has he stolen the show after doing so. ???