14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 175 runs in the U-19 World Cup. There is a demand for him in the senior team, but ICC rules are a hindrance. The minimum age for international cricket is 15 years, so he cannot play before March 2026.
Harare: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who defeated England in the Under-19 World Cup final, is being discussed everywhere. Seeing the explosive batting of this 14 year old boy, cricket fans are raising the question, ‘Why should he not be played in the T20 World Cup?’ Many people are saying that the opening pair of Vaibhav Suryavanshi with Abhishek Sharma can do wonders. Former players are also pushing for the inclusion of Vaibhav, who scored 175 runs in just 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final, in the senior team. But, even if BCCI wants, it is not possible at present. This may sound strange, but it is true.
ICC rule became a hurdle
The biggest obstacle in the way of Vaibhav Suryavanshi being selected in the senior team is the age related rule of ICC. In 2020, ICC had implemented a new rule. According to this, to debut in senior international cricket, the player must be at least 15 years of age. Vaibhav was born on 27 March 2011. Therefore, he can be selected for the senior Indian team only after 27 March 2026. Till then the selectors cannot pick him.
Will not be able to play even Under-19 World Cup
If we look at age, Vaibhav has a chance to play the Under-19 World Cup of 2028 and 2030. But, here BCCI’s ‘one tournament’ rule comes in the way. According to BCCI policy, if a player plays the Under-19 World Cup once, he cannot play in the same tournament again. BCCI has strictly implemented this rule since 2016 with the aim of preventing age fraud at the junior level, giving opportunities to more players and preparing young talent for the senior level. Therefore, Vaibhav will not be able to play the 2028 Under-19 World Cup.
In yesterday’s final, Vaibhav made the record of the highest individual score in the Under-19 World Cup final by scoring 175 runs in 80 balls. In this match, Vaibhav scored 150 runs only with boundaries and sixes. By hitting 15 sixes in the same match, he hit a total of 30 sixes in the entire tournament and also became the player to hit the most sixes in a single edition.
Vaibhav made many records in the first Under-19 World Cup
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has caught everyone’s attention by scoring heaps of runs in his very first Under-19 World Cup. Playing seven matches for India, Vaibhav scored 439 runs at an impressive average of 62.71 and strike rate of 169.50 with three half-centuries and one century. Along with this, he remained second in the list of batsmen who scored the most runs in the tournament. Ben Mays of England stood first by scoring 444 runs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored a stormy century in the final against England, received the ‘Man of the Match’ award. Not only this, Vaibhav Suryavanshi also won the title of ‘Man of the Series’ in the Under-19 World Cup for his excellent performance in the entire tournament.