Top 3 youngest captains in Test cricket

Test cricket is arguably the most demanding form of cricket. Unlike ODI and T20I, where the game changes in a short interval of time, Test cricket requires persistence, perseverance and tenacity for an extended period to finish on the right side of the result.

Therefore, team management and selectors tend to appoint a seasoned campaigner to lead their respective sides in the longest format of the game. It is believed the more experienced the leader, the better he can deal with the demands of Test cricket. However, not every team has the luxury of an experienced leader sitting in their dressing room who can marshal the troops on the field and use his tactical nous to devise strategic blueprints for opponents.

At times, teams are forced to show faith in young talent and throw their weight behind them, like a business investment, hoping that it bears fruit in the longer run. Let's take a look at three of the youngest captains to take the reins of captaincy in Test cricket.

#3 Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (India)

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi had the honour of leading India at a tender age of 21 years and 77 days. His first Test as captain was the third red-ball game of India's tour of West Indies in March 1962 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

After being put into bat, India got bowled out for 258, with Pataudi scoring 48. In reply, Windies posted a mammoth total of 475 on the board. India folded for 187 in the second innings and suffered a mortifying loss by an innings and 30 runs.

Pataudi led India in 40 Tests, winning nine, losing 19, while 12 games ended as draws. He chalked up a win percentage of 22.5% and a loss percentage of 47.5%.

#2 Tatenda Taibu (Zimbabwe)

A leadership void in the dressing room forced the Zimbabwean selectors to elevate Tatenda Taibu as Test captain when he was barely three years into the red-ball team. Taibu's first match as Test captain came in May 2004 against Sri Lanka in Harare, when he was just 20 years and 358 days old.

Zimbabwe were restricted to one shy of 200 in their first innings before Sri Lanka scored 541, batting for hours at a stretch. Zimbabwe came up with a feeble response, managing just 102 in their second innings as they lost by an innings and 240 runs.

Taibu captained Zimbabwe in 10 Tests, with nine defeats and a draw before being axed from the role.

#1 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan is arguably the most popular cricketer to have emerged from Afghanistan. The wily leg-spinner was only 20 years and 350 days old when he led his team in a Test match against Bangladesh in September 2019 in Chattogram.

Despite being short on red-ball experience, Afghanistan proved too hard to tame for the hosts as they registered a comprehensive 224-run victory. Rashid led Afghanistan only twice in Test cricket. Afghanistan suffered a nine-wicket loss to West Indies on the other occasion.