Ever since the Proteas squad for this year’s T20 World Cup was announced, there was a lot of discontent regarding the notable absence of two of the most experienced, and arguably the most proficient, T20 cricketers in the country. One of them was the former captain and star batter Faf du Plessis, and the other was the evergreen leg spinner Imran Tahir.

Tahir has a massive amount of experience playing franchise and international cricket all around the world. He’s played three World Cups and three T20 World Cups for South Africa, and even at 42, he isn’t quite past his best, as some might perceive.

Missing out on the global tournament hasn’t deterred Tahir’s ambition to continue taking advantage of any opportunities on offer. He’s currently playing in the Lanka Premier League for the Dambulla Giants, and it’s been yet another solid showing. As of now, he’s played 8 games, taken 13 wickets, and maintained a superb economy rate just a shade under 6.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Tahir’s Proteas days may be behind him, but the burning passion for the game has only intensified. Tahir is still very determined to work towards a berth in the next T20 World Cup. And even though there’s stiffer competition due to the emergence of multiple newer spinners, Tahir is doing a splendid job to focus on areas where he can improve.

At the end of the day, age is just a number. We’ve seen players like Misbah-ul-Haq and Adam Voges perform to their fullest potential fairly late in their careers, and Tahir is very much a priceless asset in the T20 circuit. Whether he’ll be a contender for the next T20WC can be a discussion for some other time, but in the meanwhile, there is so much to appreciate in what he brings to the table. His conventional leg-breaks, googlies, and most catchy of all, his exuberant celebrations, are what indisputably make him the complete package.