Vaibhav Suryavanshi row sparks crackdown as BCCI rolls out new rule to catch over-age players

By Admin

17 Jun, 2025

The Indian cricket fraternity has been shaken by a fresh storm following allegations against IPL 2025 sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is accused of age fraud. In response to the mounting controversy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a decisive new rule aimed at cracking down on over-age players especially at the junior levels.

The Controversy That Triggered Reform

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a left-handed batter and rising star for Rajasthan Royals, found himself under scrutiny just after making headlines in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He became the youngest player ever to secure an IPL contract, signed for a staggering INR 1.1 crore, at an officially declared age of 13 years and 288 days. However, his age was soon disputed, with claims suggesting he was actually 15 years old at the time.

Following his record-breaking century in the IPL, an old video clip surfaced on social media, allegedly featuring Vaibhav stating a different birth date. While the authenticity of this video remains unverified, the incident intensified doubts around his true age.

Vaibhav's father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, defended his son, saying:

“When Vaibhav was 8 and a half years old, he first appeared for a BCCI bone test. He has already played India U-19. We don’t fear anyone. He can again undergo an age test.”

BCCI’s Strong Response: Introducing the New Rule

Amid this controversy, the BCCI decided to introduce a new bone test policy targeting age fraud at the junior level, particularly within the U-16 category. Until now, players underwent a single bone test based on the TW3 method, and a "1 factor" was added to the result to determine eligibility for the next season.

However, this method often led to players being ruled out due to mere arithmetical miscalculations, not scientific evaluations. The BCCI’s new rule addresses this flaw by allowing an additional bone test in the following season.

How the New Rule Works

"It is being done to have an exact age and make sure that no player loses due to arithmetical calculation rather than scientific calculation," a BCCI source told PTI.

Under the updated policy:

• A second bone test will be conducted if the player was ruled out based on the 1 factor.
  
  

• A male cricketer’s bone age must be 16.4 years or below in the following season to be eligible.
  
  

• For female cricketers, the bone age must be 14.9 years or below.
  
  

Practical Example

Suppose a player’s bone age in 2025/26 is 15.4 years. According to the earlier system, the 1 factor would push their age to 16.4, making them ineligible. But under the new rule, they won't need a retest next season and will remain eligible to play, thereby avoiding unfair exclusion due to purely mathematical adjustments.

A Step Towards Fair Play

The move is a clear signal that the BCCI is serious about restoring integrity in age-group cricket. By refining its age verification system, the board aims to protect deserving young talents from unjust disqualification, while ensuring that fraudulent practices are identified and discouraged.

As the Vaibhav Suryavanshi case continues to draw attention, this rule marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the spirit of junior cricket in India.