Age Controversy Hits IPL as Vijender Singh Joins the Conversation

Indian boxing legend and Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh’s recent social media post has become a topic of discussion in sporting circles. His remarks have raised the question of whether the age-reduction controversy, often associated with other sports, has now entered the realm of cricket as well.

Vijender Singh made these comments in response to the ongoing social media debate surrounding the age of young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On his X (formerly Twitter) account, Vijender Singh posted in Hindi, “Bhai aaj kal umar chhoti kar ke cricket mein bhi khelne lage” (Brother, these days people are reducing their age and playing cricket too).

Recently, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a remarkable century in a match against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He reached his hundred in just 35 balls, making him the fastest Indian to score a century in IPL history. Suryavanshi eventually scored 101 runs from 38 balls and, at 14 years and 32 days old, set the record for being the youngest player to score a century not just in the IPL, but in T20 cricket overall.

However, some netizens have raised doubts about Vaibhav’s age due to his extraordinary performance and physical prowess. Sharing old interview videos of the player, critics argued that he appeared older than the age he claims. One user stated, “Vaibhav being 14 is hard to believe. This video is from 3–4 years ago, and he already looked older. The BCCI must conduct a thorough investigation, and if age fraud is proven, a ban should be imposed.” Another user commented, “Even if the age is incorrect, this kind of power hitting at 15–16 is astonishing.”

In the midst of these discussions, Vijender Singh’s remarks have gained significant attention. The issue of reducing one’s age to secure opportunities has long plagued Indian sports, particularly at the junior and age-group levels. To curb this, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced stringent age-verification procedures along with various other measures. Vijender Singh’s recent comments have once again brought the topic of age fraud in cricket to the forefront.