A new controversy has erupted over the age of young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with his age being reported as 15, 17, and 20.
According to official documents, Vaibhav's date of birth is March 27, 2011, making him 15 years old.
Vaibhav's father has refuted the allegations, stating that his son has passed the BCCI's bone test to prove his age.
This case highlights the larger issue of age fraud in Indian cricket, a concern also raised by legends like Rahul Dravid.
Patna | Young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made a splash with his performance in the IPL, is in the headlines once again. This time, the reason is not his game, but the controversy surrounding his age. Officially stated to be 15 years old, serious questions have been raised about Vaibhav's age in various reports, reigniting the issue of age fraud in Indian cricket.
The Web of Vaibhav's Age: 15, 17, or 20?
The confusion over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's age arose when several media outlets presented different claims. This issue is not limited to just one player but also points towards flaws in the system.
Australian Media Ignites a New Debate
The entire controversy began with a report from the Australian news portal Fox Sports. The report, citing cricket writer Gideon Haigh, claimed that Vaibhav is 20 years old. Haigh stated that when Vaibhav was asked about his age last year, he had claimed to be 19.
Haigh wrote, "The source I trust has given me this information. He would have no reason to lie." This claim caused a stir in the cricket world.
Vaibhav's Own Statement Complicates Matters
Meanwhile, in a 2023 interview with a local news portal 'BNN News Benipatti', Vaibhav had said something different. He mentioned that he would turn 14 in September of that year. According to this, his age should be 17 this year, which is about one and a half years older than his documented age.
Official records, such as the information available on Cricbuzz, state Vaibhav's date of birth as March 27, 2011. According to this, he is currently only 15 years old. He made his IPL debut at the age of 14.
The Family's Stance and the Truth of Bone Testing
Amidst the questions being raised about his age, Vaibhav's family has strongly defended him. His father has called all allegations baseless and stated that he has concrete proof to verify his age.
Last year too, when Vaibhav set the record for being the youngest to score a century in the IPL, this issue had surfaced. At that time, his father Sanjeev Sooryavanshi had said, "My son has undergone bone testing to prove his age."
He further explained, "When he was eight and a half years old, he first gave a bone test at the BCCI. He has also played for India Under-19. We are not afraid of anyone. He can undergo the age test again."
Serious Allegations on Social Media
Despite these claims, many people on social media have accused Sooryavanshi and his family of manipulating documents. People allege that he was given an unfair advantage at the junior level by showing a younger age.
An Old Ailment of Indian Cricket: Age Fraud
It is not uncommon for young cricketers in India to manipulate their age. This is a problem that has been hollowing out the roots of Indian cricket for decades. There are several reasons behind this, including the search for better opportunities and impressing selectors.
Often, coaches and parents alter their children's birth dates to make them eligible for age-group tournaments. Being older and stronger for their age group provides an advantage, allowing them to perform better and catch the eyes of selectors.
Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid had expressed concern on this issue in 2015, saying, "This whole exercise begins when a coach changes a player's date of birth to make him eligible for a local tournament. Parents also happily accept the advantage of a year or two."
Dravid clarified that a player who misrepresents his age doesn't succeed because he is more talented, but because he is physically stronger than other children his age.
What are the Challenges for BCCI?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has adopted measures like bone testing to tackle this problem. However, people are finding ways around this too. According to a shocking report by Cricbuzz, some parents were sending the player's younger siblings for bone testing instead.
This shows how deep the tendency to manipulate the system runs. It is a major challenge for the BCCI to completely stop this fraud.
The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi case is not just an individual controversy but a warning for Indian cricket. Until this problem is eradicated from its roots, genuine talents will continue to face injustice, and questions will keep being raised about the system.
जोगेन्द्र सिंह शेखावत
