The young cricket sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, from Rajasthan Royals (RR), is making headlines in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. At just 14 years old, Vaibhav scored a century off just 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans (GT), marking himself as the fastest century-maker in IPL history from India. However, on May 1st (Thursday), he couldn't perform as expected in the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) and was dismissed without scoring.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi debuted in the IPL on April 19, 2025, against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He announced his arrival in style by smashing a six off Shardul Thakur's very first ball. Later, in a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he targeted Bhuvneshwar Kumar, hitting two sixes. His remarkable inning against Gujarat remains the talk of the tournament.
After such a spectacular performance, questions about Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s actual age have started to surface. An old interview has gone viral, where Vaibhav mentions he would turn 14 in September 2023, suggesting he should be 16 this September, according to that statement.
However, according to IPL record books, Vaibhav's date of birth is March 27, 2011, making him 14 years and 36 days old now. Renowned statistician Mohandas Menon has expressed surprise over Vaibhav's age, citing the old interview as substantial evidence of his real age.
Vaibhav’s father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, rejects any claims of age fraud. In an interview, he explained, 'When he was eight and a half, he took the 'BCCI Bone' test for the first time. He has already played for India Under-19. We fear nothing. He can undergo the 'Age Test' again.'
How Does BCCI Verify Age?
To prevent age fraud, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) currently employs the TW3 (Tanner-Whitehouse 3) method. This technique utilizes X-rays of a player's left hand and wrist to assess bone maturity. The age estimate relies on observing 20 bones, initially separate. As a person matures, these bones tend to fuse. Utilizing the left hand and wrist is strategic, as most individuals are more active with their right hand, increasing injury susceptibility compared to the left hand. Conducting the 'bone test' costs about INR 2400, with results ready in 3-4 days.
Source: aajtak
Currently, state associations conduct these tests under BCCI observer supervision. After testing, samples are sent to experts for results. In 2019, Rasikh Salam Dar from Jammu and Kashmir committed age fraud, resulting in a two-year ban from BCCI. Others, like Manjot Kalra and Ankit Bawne, have also made headlines in similar scenarios.
