Vaibhav Suryavanshi, IPL’s Youngest Crorepati, Faces Age Fraud Allegations

Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into cricketing history on Monday, becoming the youngest player ever sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Bihar-born batting prodigy was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore on Day 2 of the auction held in Jeddah.

However, alongside his meteoric rise, Vaibhav's age has sparked controversy. Allegations have surfaced claiming the cricketer is actually 15 years old, contrary to his declared age of 13 years and 288 days. Addressing these accusations, Vaibhav's father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, defended his son, emphasizing that he had passed a BCCI bone test at the age of 8.

"At the age of eight and a half, he took his first BCCI bone test. He has already played for India U-19. We don't fear anyone. He can undergo another age test if needed," Sanjiv told PTI.

Recalling Vaibhav's journey, Sanjiv added, "My son has worked incredibly hard. At eight years old, he stood out in the U-16 district trials. I would take him to cricket coaching in Samastipur and bring him home afterward."

Upon Vaibhav's selection by Rajasthan Royals, Sanjiv remarked, "They invited him for trials in Nagpur. During a match scenario created by Vikram Rathour sir, he needed to score 17 runs in a single over, and Vaibhav hit three sixes. Throughout the trials, he managed to hit eight sixes and four boundaries."

Who Is Vaibhav Suryavanshi?

Hailing from Samastipur in Bihar, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already gained recognition for his remarkable achievements. During the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, he debuted at just 12 years and 284 days against Mumbai, setting a record.

Previously, cricketing legends like Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar debuted at 15 years and 57 days and 15 years and 230 days, respectively.

Vaibhav made headlines again during the Youth Test series against Australia in Chennai, where he scored an impressive 104 runs off just 62 balls. At the age of 13 years and 188 days, he became the youngest centurion in the 170-year history of competitive cricket.

The southpaw also holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian at the youth level, reaching the milestone in just 58 balls-second only to England's Moeen Ali, who achieved it in 56 balls.