Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s cricket career is taking off, but controversy is brewing around his age. The 14-year-old player for Rajasthan Royals recently smashed a century off just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans, making him the second-fastest to achieve this feat in IPL history.
A Viral Video Sparks Doubts
A two-year-old interview video of Vaibhav is making the rounds on social media, raising questions about his age. In the video, he mentions that he’ll turn 14 in September. If that’s true, it would mean he’s now 16, not 14. This discrepancy has led many to accuse him of age fraud.
The issue of age fraud in sports, particularly cricket, is a serious one. It can undermine the integrity of the game and create an unfair advantage. As one Twitter user pointed out, “Age fraud in sports, particularly in cricket, is a serious issue as it undermines the integrity of the game and creates an unfair advantage.”
Inconsistencies in Vaibhav’s Birthdate
Another inconsistency has added fuel to the fire. In the old interview, Vaibhav mentioned that his birthday is in September. However, his current birthday is listed as March 27, 2011. He even celebrated his birthday with the Rajasthan team last March. This conflicting information has sparked more doubts about his age.
- Vaibhav was just 14 years and 32 days old when he scored a century against Gujarat.
- He is now the youngest player to score a century and a half-century in T20 cricket.
The controversy surrounding Vaibhav’s age began when he was picked by Rajasthan Royals in the auction for ₹1.1 crore. At the time, he was just 13 years old. Now, his impressive performance on the field has brought the issue back into the spotlight.