Vaibhav Suryavanshi Faces Age Fraud Allegations, Father Responds

At just 13 years and eight months old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever to be picked by the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals. However, it soon led to allegations of age fraud, with some claiming his actual age is 15. Adding to the controversy is an old interview where Suryavanshi’s statement suggests he would be 15 this year.

In an interview in 2023, he told a local news channel that he will turn 14 on September 27 of that year. As the age-related controversy gained momentum online, his father Sanjiv Suryavanshi stepped forward to address the allegations, asserting that his son had already undergone BCCI’s bone density test.

Sanjiv Suryavanshi told a news agency, “When he was 8 and half years old he first appeared for a BCCI bone test. He has already played India U-19. We don’t fear anyone. He can again undergo an age test."

According to his father, the Rajasthan Royals invited him for batting trials before signing him. The franchise’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, challenged him to score 17 runs in an over. “Rajasthan Royals had called him for trials in Nagpur. Vikram Rathour sir (batting coach) gave a match situation where he had to score 17 in an over. Bituwa ne 3 chakka mara. Trials mein aat chakka aur char chauwaa mara (He smashed three sixes. At trials, he hit eight sixes and four fours)," his father had said.

Suryavanshi, a young talent from Bihar, catapulted to social media fame after scoring an impressive century off just 62 balls in a Youth Test for India Under-19 against Australia U-19 in Chennai. With this, he became the youngest batter to record an international century. He has already showcased his potential in domestic cricket, playing five Ranji Trophy matches since his first-class debut against Mumbai earlier this year. He recently made his T20 debut on November 23 in a match against Rajasthan.