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Let’s see the list of young leaders!
Captaining a team in a high-stakes tournament like the T20 World Cup is no easy feat. With so much on the line, a skipper must be at their absolute best to execute strategies and guide their team to victory. The T20 World Cup has witnessed a few young captains proving their strategic brilliance, leading their teams to title triumphs at a relatively young age. In this article, we’ll explore the 5 youngest captains to win the T20 World Cup.
MS Dhoni was entrusted with the captaincy of the Indian team just before the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. The wicketkeeper-batter led an inexperienced squad, as many senior players had opted out of the tournament. Initially, no one believed this rookie team had a chance to win, but Dhoni's strategic brilliance proved everyone wrong. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue navigated their way to the final, where they faced their arch-rivals. In a thrilling match, India emerged victorious, clinching the trophy. At 26 years and 79 days old, MS Dhoni became the youngest captain to win the T20 World Cup, etching his name in cricketing history with this remarkable achievement.
The West Indies had a mixed outing in the 2010 T20 World Cup, hosted in their own backyard, as they failed to reach the knockouts. Daren Sammy assumed the captaincy of the Windies team a year before the 2012 tournament. An inspiring leader and all-rounder, Sammy guided the team to their first-ever T20 World Cup victory, defeating hosts Sri Lanka in the final. Demonstrating strategic acumen and resilience, Sammy's leadership was pivotal in this historic win. At 28 years and 292 days old at the start of the final, he became the second-youngest captain to clinch the T20 World Cup trophy, marking a significant achievement for both him and the West Indies cricket team.
When Sri Lanka's regular captain Dinesh Chandimal received a one-match suspension for a slow over-rate during a group stage match, Lasith Malinga stepped in to lead the team for their final group game. It was Malinga's first stint as captain in T20Is. Despite Chandimal's expected return for the knockout stage, he chose to withdraw, allowing Malinga to continue leading. With only two matches as skipper, the Yorker King orchestrated Sri Lanka's historic victory in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Malinga, at 30 years and 221 days old, became the third-youngest captain to achieve this feat, confirming his leadership quality and ability to inspire his team to success on the global stage.
Jos Buttler assumed the role of England’s full-time T20I captain a few months prior to the 2022 T20 World Cup. He justified the team management’s trust by leading England to their second T20 World Cup victory. The wicketkeeper-batter, aged 32 years and 66 days, played a pivotal role as England triumphed in the final at the MCG. Buttler’s leadership was instrumental in steering the team through challenges to clinch the prestigious title, solidifying his reputation not only as a dynamic player but also as a capable and successful captain on the global stage of T20 cricket. His achievement marked a significant chapter in England’s cricketing history, proving his ability to excel under pressure and deliver when it mattered most.
These leaders are an exception to the fact that only experience can lead to great vision. Age wasn't a factor in them guiding their team to victory!
