By Chris de Silva, ABC
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has turned heads with his incredible IPL century. Photo: Photosport
The cricket world was set alight earlier this week, when Indian prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi registered one of the fastest centuries in the history of the Indian Premier League.
Suryavanshi's 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans was second only to Chris Gayle's 30-ball century, while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.
The century was more special for the fact that Suryavanshi was just 14 years and 32 days of age at the time of his sparkling knock.
Suryavanshi smashed 11 sixes against an attack featuring Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan, all of whom have played international cricket.
Given Suryavanshi smashed the record of the IPL's previous youngest centurion - Manish Pandey, at 19 years and 253 days in 2009- by more than five years, questions have been raised around the legitimacy of his age.
Here is what we know.
What is Suryavanshi's listed age?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi celebrates his IPL century. Photo: SAJJAD HUSSAIN
Suryavanshi's current birth date is listed as 27 March, 2011.
That would mean he was born less than a week before India won the 2011 World Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai.
He is currently listed as 14 years and 35 days of age at the time of writing.
Where does Suryavanshi's century rank in terms of age?
Suryavanshi is by far the youngest centurion in the history of the IPL, beating out Pandey's record from 2009.
He also quite comfortably clears the youngest centurion in the history of test cricket - Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful, who scored a ton against Sri Lanka at 17 years and 61 days of age in 2001.
Pakistani great Shahid Afridi is the youngest centurion in the history of one-day cricket, famously reaching triple figures against Sri Lanka at 16 years and 217 days of age in 1996.
Suryavanshi would be the fourth-youngest centurion in domestic cricket. That record sits with Pakistan's Mohammad Akram, who scored 111, while playing for Khairpur in a first-class match in 1968 at just 12 years and 217 days of age.
Why is there controversy surrounding his age?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi scoring his record IPL century. Photo: Photosport
Anytime something extraordinary happens on a sporting field, there are naturally sceptics. In this case, seeing a 14-year-old blast seasoned international cricketers around the park is not normal.
Previous 'youngest ever' claims have been shrouded in controversy.
Pakistan's Hasan Raza made headlines, when he made his test debut at 14 years and 227 days in 1996. Raza was thought to be the youngest debutant in test history, but the Pakistan Cricket Board later withdrew the claim for Raza's record, after medical tests raised doubts about his actual birthdate.
Suryavanshi sceptics have also pointed to an interview he did with BNN News Benipatti in 2023. The interview is posted on YouTube and the title suggests Suryavanshi was 14 years old at the time of the interview.
In the interview, he was asked how old he was and he told the interviewer, "I'll turn 15 on September 27th".
This was controversial on two counts. Firstly, it meant he is not currently 14 years old, but rather 16 going on 17, and also, because 27 September is not listed as his official birthdate.
How is it possible to have two different birthdates?
Suryavanshi was born in Samastipur, a small district in Bihar, which is stationed in the far northeast corner of India, near the country's border with Nepal.
Birth certificates in India are dealt according to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Every birth or stillbirth must be registered with the concerned state within 21 days of its occurrence. To apply for a birth certificate, the birth must first be registered by filling up a form prescribed by the registrar of the concerned local authority.
According to the Section 13 of the Act, it is possible to have a delayed registration of a birth.
Section 13.1 states: "Any birth or death of which information is given to the Registrar after the expiry of the period specified therefor, but within thirty days of its occurrence, shall be registered on payment of such late fee as may be prescribed."
Section 13.2 states: "Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after thirty days but within one year of its occurrence shall be registered only with the written permission of the prescribed authority and on payment of the prescribed fee and the production of an affidavit made before a notary public or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government."
Section 13.3 states: "Any birth or death which has not been registered within one year of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a magistrate of the first class or a Presidency Magistrate after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of the prescribed fee."
What has Suryavanshi's family said about his age?
Suryavanshi's father, Sanjiv, who was his first-ever coach, strongly defended his son's age in a previous interview with Press Trust of India (PTI).
"When he was eight-and-a-half-years old, he first appeared for a BCCI bone test," he said.
"He has already played [for] India U19s. We don't fear anyone, he can again undergo an age test.
"My son has worked hard. At the age of eight years, he excelled at U16 district trials.
"I would take him for his cricket coaching to Samastipur and then take him back."
There is no indication at this stage that Suryavanshi will be required to undergo any further age tests.
When will Suryavanshi make his debut for India?
Sachin Tendulkar is the youngest player to debut for India in both Test and ODI cricket. Photo: Photosport
If Suryavanshi continues the form he's shown in the IPL, he will soon represent his country.
The left-hander has already made his debut at the first-class level and at the list A level, but has not had the same amount of success.
India's youngest-ever T20 debutant is currently Washington Sundar, who was just 18 years and 80 days old, when he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2017. Suryavanshi will likely beat this record by some distance.
He will find it tougher to become India's youngest-ever one-day and test player, with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar holding both records.
Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days old, when he made his test debut against Pakistan in 1989, and 16 years and 238 days old, when he made his one-day debut against the same opponents roughly a month later.
- ABC
