5 youngest captains in franchise cricket

Franchise cricket is all about the beginning for the young lads as the captain of a side. This modern era is all about T20 cricket with many T20 leagues have been organized by several cricket boards. Stating with IPL and BBL, there is also new T20 leagues like LPL, PSL, BPL, and CPL, etc. The T20 leagues have got famous day by day. Many young lads who have captained in franchise cricket may be a good future captains just like India's most successful Test skipper Virat Kohli. Kohli has captained RCB in 2010 when he was just 22.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi becomes the youngest to be handed the captaincy of a T20 franchise as he will lead Lahore Qalanders in the upcoming season of PSL. Meanwhile, in this article, we will try to give a look at those 5 young lads who becomes the youngest captain's in franchise cricket.

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#5. Shreyas Iyer | 23 years

Current Indian middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has captained Delhi Capitals for three years since 2018. Meanwhile, in which DC has reached the Finals in 2020 and also got a place in the playoffs in 2019. Shreyas Iyer becomes the youngest captain for DC in IPL 2017 when he was just 23 years old. However, Shreyas has been a brilliant captain for his franchise side with a win percentage of 56.04. In 41 games, Iyer has won in 23 while lost in the rest 18 games as captain of the franchise side. IPL captaincy debut was a match to cherish for Shreyas as he smashed an unbeaten knock of 93 runs of just 40 deliveries which included 10 massive sixes.

#4. Rishabh Pant | 23 years

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has handed over the captaincy of Delhi Capitals after Shreyas Iyer suffered an injury before the league. However, Pant has proved his ability as a captain after he has handed over the captaincy of Delhi Capitals this year. He becomes the second-youngest after Shreyas to captain a franchise side at the age of just 23. In 16 matches, DC has won 10 games while lost in 6, with Pant captaining the side. However, Pant has successfully helped his side to reach the playoffs of IPL 2021. Although, DC again failed to lift the trophy with a back-to-back loss in the Qualifiers.

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#3. Steven Smith | 22 years

Steven Smith has captained Pune Warriors India back in 2011 when he was just 22 years old. Although, as the franchise skipper Smith has failed to reach the playoffs of IPL. In 29 matches as skipper, Smith has had a good win percentage of 65.5. Meanwhile, Smith's win percentage is the best than all other successful captains in the T20 league. Smith has won 18 games while lost in the other 11 games that he has captained in the T20 league. Smith has also led Rajasthan Royals for several matches in IPL 2019.

#2. Virat Kohli | 22 years

Indian test skipper Virat Kohli has captained Royal Challengers Banglore first in 2010 when he was only 22 years old. Kohli led RCB in the absence of Daniel Vettori as he was injured. Although, as a captain, Kohli has not won a trophy in the last 11 years. In 140 matches as skipper, Virat Kohli has won 66 matches while losing in 70 of them. Kohli has maintained a win percentage of 48.52 in IPL and ended his journey without winning the trophy as skipper. Although, RCB reached the finals two times under his captaincy but failed to lift the trophy.

Also Read: Asian captains with the most tests win in SENA countries

#1. Shaheen Afridi | 21 years

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named as captain of Lahore Qalandars last week for the upcoming PSL season. Shaheen has played as captain in the under 16 tournaments in Pakistan. Meanwhile, he becomes the youngest captain to be handed captaincy of a T20 franchise league as he is just 21. Thus he topped this list. Afridi is currently one of the best bowlers in test cricket. In just 21 years of age, he has one of the greatest of the format currently. In just 21 tests, Afridi has scalped 86 wickets with an average of 23.9.

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N.B: The stats are accurate as of 31/12/2021.