Bihar's 12-Year-old cricket prodigy debuts in Ranji Trophy, viral video raises questions about his 14th birthday in 2023

Recently, Bihar's Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name in the record books during the opening Ranji Trophy match. Aged just 12 years and 284 days, the young cricketer made his first-class debut, adding a unique chapter to the history of the game.

Suryavanshi now stands as the fourth-youngest Indian to play first-class cricket. The record for the youngest debutant still belongs to Alimuddin, who achieved the feat at the tender age of 12 years and 73 days in the 1942–43 season. Bihar's SK Bose follows closely, making his debut at 12 years and 76 days during the 1959–60 season.

However, Suryavanshi's remarkable achievement has not come without its share of controversy. An old video surfaced on social media, dating back to last year, where the cricketer stated his birthday as September 27th, anticipating turning 14 in 2023. Official documents, however, assert his birth on March 27, 2011, making him 12 at the time of his debut match. Post-debut, Suryavanshi clarified his birth year as 2011, admitting to the confusion.

Reflecting on his unexpected debut and age confusion, Vaibhav shared, "Brother, 27th March 2011, and while telling this, I have now become accustomed to this question. I never thought that I would play Ranji Trophy at such a young age and that too against a team which has players like Ajinkya Rahane. I am very happy and a little nervous too," in an interview with EspnCricinfo Hindi.

Coming to the match, Mumbai skipper and Indian cricket stalwart Ajinkya Rahane missed the game due to a neck sprain, with Shams Mulani stepping up to lead the side. Bihar enjoyed a stellar Day 1, reducing the 41-time champions to 245-9 at stumps. 

Bhupen Lalwani emerged as the top scorer with 65 runs, and despite the odds, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's early debut has already marked a memorable moment in the realm of Indian cricket. This young player has already showcased his talent on the national stage, participating in multiple U19 series, including the Quadrangular Under19 Series against England, Bangladesh, and India A in November 2023.