Croatia’s Zach Vukusic has made cricket history, becoming the youngest-ever captain in international cricket across all formats. At just 17 years and 311 days, Vukusic led Croatia in the opening T20I of a four-match series against Cyprus at the Mladost Cricket Ground in Zagreb.
The milestone eclipses the previous record held by Afghanistan star Rashid Khan, who captained his country in ODIs at 19 years and 165 days, and France’s Noman Amjad, who led his side at 18 years and 24 days. Vukusic also overtook Carl Hartmann of the Isle of Man (18y 276d), Mongolia’s Luwsanzundui Erdenebulgan (18y 324d), and Rwanda’s Didier Ndikubwimana (19y 327d).
Making an impact from the start
In his debut as captain, Vukusic top-scored for Croatia cricket with 43 runs off 32 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Despite his efforts, Croatia fell short in the chase of 213, losing to Cyprus by 58 runs.
Vukusic’s international career began in July 2024 against Belgium, when he scored a fifty on debut. Since then, he has accumulated 206 runs and taken six wickets in his first seven internationals. In T20Is, he has scored 131 runs at an average of 32.75 with a strike rate around 144, alongside three wickets at an average of 24.33.
From England’s leagues to Croatia’s captaincy
Before becoming Croatia’s youngest captain, Vukusic developed his game in England, playing club cricket and appearing in the English Premier League at just 16. His standout moment came with an unbeaten 116 in a 50-over match for Exeter, showcasing the batting power that now anchors Croatia’s top order.
A right-arm medium pacer and aggressive top-order batter, Vukusic has already proven himself as a genuine all-rounder. His early success suggests he could be a central figure in Croatian cricket for years to come.
Youngest captains in cricket history
While Vukusic holds the record for the youngest captain in any international format, Rashid Khan still retains the record for the youngest Test captain, leading Afghanistan at 20 years and 350 days.
