In the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match between Trinbago Knight Riders and St. Lucia Zouks on Wednesday, leg-spinner Pravin Tambe created history as he became the first Indian player to participate in the series.
The 48-year-old, brought in to replace Sunil Narine in the playing XI for the Trinbago Knight Riders, had an unideal start to life in the CPL after being smashed for a six off the very first ball.
However, the veteran leggie who played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals picked a wicket off the final ball of his first over to open his account.
Save this for the trivia question later.
— SportsAdda (@sportsadda_) August 26, 2020
Who was the first Indian to take a wicket in the #CPL? 🤔
Pravin Tambe! 🥂 pic.twitter.com/ZiHMU0NNd4
Some of his career highlights include taking a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 5, 2014, in Ahmedabad, which bagged him the Man of the Match award. That year, he also became the highest wicket-taker in the IPL (till Match 25) and won the purple cap for the very first time in his career.
Tambe also played for Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. In 2018, Tambe stepped down to the T20 Mumbai league with NaMo Bandra Blasters to play in the inaugural season of the series before moving over to North Mumbai Panthers for the second season.
Tambe was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2020 IPL auction, but his involvement in the T10 league was a violation of BCCI's rule of no Indian players in foreign leagues, ruling the Maharashtra native out from this year’s IPL. However, it opened the door for Tambe to play in the CPL where he was picked up by the Trinbago Knight Riders.
The internet was, unsurprisingly, excited by Tambe's debut and here are some of the best reactions:
I don’t know about Pravin Tambe but I am excited that he’s making his debut for @TKRiders! What an inspiring story!! Hope you watch today at 7:30 PM IST on @StarSportsIndia @legytambe @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/SLpUywzgUV
— Venky Mysore (@VenkyMysore) August 26, 2020
pravin tambe is showing that talent and harwork beats age and also shuts those mouths who preach such things, a big shout out to the @TKRiders franchise for believing that talent and harwork beats everything. pravin tambe you have set an example for alot of us.🙏
— Sheldon Jackson (@ShelJackson27) August 26, 2020
Pravin Tambe becomes the first Indian to play in a CPL game. He’s making his debut for the Trinbago Knight Riders.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) August 26, 2020
Tambe has a rare two-ball hat-trick in the IPL for RR v KKR in 2014 (got one wicket off a wide ball)#CPL20
Pravin Tambe, born in the same year as Bangladesh, is playing for Trinbago Knight Riders today.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) August 26, 2020
PT is in the house! The young man makes his debut @CPL #tambe @TKRiders pic.twitter.com/dOB42r3SHt
— Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) August 26, 2020
A historic day in the #CPL - Congratulations Pravin Tambe on becoming the first Indian to feature in the @CPL. #TKRvSTZ #BiggestPartyinSport
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) August 26, 2020
In the CPL this year 18 year-old rising pace bowling star Jayden Seales will be in the same Trinbago Knight Riders squad as 48 year-old Indian leg spinner Pravin Tambe. When Seales was born in September 2001 (!) Tambe was already 29 years old. #CPL
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 10, 2020
His IPL contract was torn up because he played in the T10 League. That's enough punishment. Hopefully, no questions are raised about Pravin Tambe's CPL participation. That he's been picked up by a very successful franchise shows he still has quite a lot to offer.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) July 7, 2020
Pravin Tambe is a brilliant story, a man making up for lost time even at this late age. Kudos to him and his spirit #cricket https://t.co/sTi6HcgT11
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) July 6, 2020
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee
