Bihar’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi makes debut at 12, controversy erupts over actual age

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 12-year-old guy from Bihar has made headlines by making his first-class debut in the ongoing season of the Ranji Trophy.

Vaibhav, who claims as a teenager, has registered his name in history as one of the youngest debutants in India’s first-class cricket, surpassing the early milestones set by legends Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.

Vaibhav marked his debut in a Ranji Trophy against Mumbai at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna, becoming part of the 38 teams competing in 19 matches across India.

“I was a cricket tragic myself. But in Bihar, let alone cricket, there was no scope for any sport. I moved to Mumbai at the age of 19 and did a lot of jobs, such as working as a bouncer in a nightclub in Colaba, working in a Sulabh toilet or at the port. I used to spend my off days at the Oval Maidan. The young kids playing cricket would be covered by pads and helmets. A few of them were so good that one could watch them for hours. I decided it then only that be it a son or daughter, I will make my children cricketers,” Sanjeev told The Indian Express from Patna.

“Life has come full circle for me. In Mumbai, I dreamt about it, and after all these years, my son made his debut against Mumbai,” he laughs.

Suryavanshi’s debut has drawn comparisons to the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, who made his first-class debut at the age of 15 years.

Controversy Surrounding Vaibhav’s age

Several controversies are surrounding Vaibhav’s age. In an interview with BNN New last year, he mentioned that he will turn 14 on September 27. In contrast, his documents say that he was 12 years old on March 27, 2011, as per his birth certificate.

Interestingly, the BCCI enlists him as a 12-year-old, aligning with the latter record, which adds a layer of intrigue to an already fascinating story, debates about age verification in cricket.