India’s teenage cricket sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, is facing scrutiny over his age after his impressive performances in the recently concluded U-19 Asia Cup. The controversy began when former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan raised doubts about the 13-year-old’s age following his remarkable semifinal performance.
Junaid Khan Questions Suryavanshi’s Age
Junaid shared a clip on social media from Suryavanshi’s explosive semifinal knock against Sri Lanka, captioning it with skepticism: “Can a 13-year-old kid really hit such a long six?” The video highlighted Suryavanshi’s explosive batting performance, which featured five sixes and five boundaries, as he scored 67 runs off just 36 balls.
Can a 13-year-old kid really hit such a long six????
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♂️ #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #ChampionsTrophy2025 #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/KaQNxBGCNO---Advertisement---— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) December 7, 2024
The stellar performance earned Suryavanshi the Player of the Match title and secured a seven-wicket victory for India. Over the course of the tournament, Suryavanshi scored 176 runs in five matches, tying with Ayush Mahtre as India’s top run-getter. His campaign included two half-centuries, with a standout 76 not out against UAE and his semifinal heroics.
However, Suryavanshi’s final performance saw him struggle, scoring just 9 runs as India fell to Bangladesh by 59 runs.
Father Defends Son’s Age with BCCI-Certified Bone Test
Despite the controversy, Suryavanshi’s father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, has strongly denied the age-fraud allegations. Speaking to PTI, Sanjiv defended his son’s age by referencing a bone test certified by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted five years ago.
“When he was 8 and a half years old, he first appeared for a BCCI bone test. He has already played for India U-19. We don’t fear anyone. He can again undergo an age test.”
The controversy adds another layer of attention to Suryavanshi’s career, particularly after his historic IPL feat.
IPL 2025 Auction Milestone
Recently, Suryavanshi made headlines by becoming the youngest player in history to be sold at the IPL auction. Rajasthan Royals picked him up for ₹1.1 crore, and he is set to be mentored by cricket legend Rahul Dravid, who recently returned as the franchise’s head coach.
Despite the age controversy, Suryavanshi remains undeterred and is focused on his cricket journey as he prepares for the upcoming challenges in the cricket calendar.
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