Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Age Controversy Surrounds Young Cricket Star Vaibhav Suryavanshi After IPL Century
India’s emergent cricket prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, has ignited a debate surrounding his age even as he etched his name in IPL history with a phenomenal century for the Rajasthan Royals. The 14-year-old became the youngest cricketer to smash a century in T20 cricket on Monday, achieving the milestone in a mere 35 deliveries, embellished with 11 sixes and seven boundaries. This record-breaking feat has brought both acclaim and scrutiny regarding his actual age, adding intrigue to his explosive entrance onto the global stage.
Record-Breaking Performance
Suryavanshi was eventually dismissed for a scintillating 101 off 38 balls as the Royals secured a commanding eight-wicket triumph over the Gujarat Titans. This innings marked the second-quickest century in IPL annals and the fastest by an Indian batter. Weeks earlier, Suryavanshi had already become the youngest player to participate in the IPL, making an instant impact by launching his first ball for a six.
Age Discrepancy Concerns
While he is garnering global attention due to his exceptional youth, conflicting information has emerged concerning his precise age. Suryavanshi’s official birth date is March 27, 2011, which would make him 14 years and 32 days old.
Divergently, during an interview with BNN News two years prior, he stated that he would be turning 14 on September 27, 2023. This assertion would indicate he is approximately 18 months older than his officially recorded age.
Family Denies Age Falsification
Sanjiv Suryavanshi, his father, swiftly refuted the reports questioning his son’s age, affirming his willingness to comply with any requested age verification tests.
Father’s Rebuttal
“He first underwent a BCCI bone assessment at the age of eight and a half,” Sanjiv told PTI. “He has already represented India in under-19 matches. We are unafraid of scrutiny. He is welcome to undergo another age determination test.”
“My son has put in countless hours of practice. At eight years old, he excelled in under-16 district trials. I used to transport him to Samastipur for cricket coaching before bringing him back home.”
Future Prospects
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Suryavanshi, who has rapidly established himself as a coveted talent in cricket. He was acquired by the Royals at the previous IPL auction for £103,789.
- Last October, the teenage phenomenon caused a stir by scoring a century off 58 balls for India under-19s against Australia.
- He was also a member of India’s squad for the under-19 Asia Cup of the same year, amassing 176 runs at an average of 44.
Suryavanshi also represents Bihar in first-class cricket, the state in eastern India where he was raised, having debuted at the age of 12 in January. To date, he has accumulated 100 runs, with a personal best of 41.