In a tournament already filled with fairytale narratives, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has etched his name into the cricketing history books by becoming the oldest captain to win a Player of the Match award in an ICC tournament. The 39-year-old achieved the feat during Zimbabwe’s emphatic six-wicket victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, breaking a record previously held by former Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Sikandar Raza’s match-winning performance that made history
Raza’s historic moment came in Zimbabwe’s final group-stage encounter against Sri Lanka, where the all-rounder delivered a captain’s knock under pressure. Chasing a competitive target of 179 runs, Raza walked in at number four and produced a blistering innings of 45 runs off just 26 deliveries, studded with two fours and four towering sixes at a strike rate of 173.08.
His aggressive batting ensured Zimbabwe maintained control of the chase, eventually reaching the target with three balls to spare. Though he conceded 36 runs in four wicketless overs with the ball, his leadership and match-turning innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
At 39 years and 301 days, Raza surpassed Rohit’s previous record set during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final, where the Indian opener won the award at 37 years and 331 days.
Rohit features twice on this list, demonstrating his remarkable consistency in leading from the front during ICC tournaments. His 76-run knock in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand remains one of the finest captain’s innings in recent memory.
Oldest captains to win Player of the Match Award in ICC tournaments
| Player | Age | Tournament | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) | 39 years 301 days | T20 World Cup 2026 | Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka | February 2026 |
| Rohit Sharma (India) | 37 years 331 days | Champions Trophy 2025 | India vs New Zealand (Final) | March 2025 |
| Rohit Sharma (India) | 37 years 55 days | T20 World Cup 2024 | India vs Australia | June 2024 |
Rohit Sharma’s legacy: The record that stood since March 2025
Rohit’s place in this list was cemented during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where he led India to victory against New Zealand in the final. His captain’s knock at the Dubai International Stadium not only secured India’s third Champions Trophy title but also earned him the Player of the Match award at 37 years and 331 days.
That performance placed Rohit in an elite group of captains who have won Player of the Match awards in ICC tournament finals, joining the likes of Clive Lloyd (1975 World Cup), Ricky Ponting (2003 World Cup), and MS Dhoni (2011 World Cup).
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Sikandar Raza’s remarkable journey: Age just a number
What makes Raza’s achievement particularly remarkable is the context of Zimbabwe’s cricketing resurgence. The Chevrons, who entered the tournament as underdogs, have now qualified for their first-ever Super 8 stage in seven T20 World Cup attempts, remaining unbeaten in the group stage.
Raza’s leadership has been instrumental in this transformation. Beyond the Sri Lanka victory, he previously guided Zimbabwe to a stunning upset against Australia earlier in the Group B fixture, knocking the 2021 champions out of the competition.
The 39-year-old’s performance against Sri Lanka also marked his 20th Player of the Match award in T20Is, making him the first player from a Full Member nation to reach this milestone and surpassing Indian stars Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli in the all-time list.
