Mumbai: India’s sensational teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, fresh off a record-breaking performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, may not feature in the next two editions of the tournament — even though he would be age-eligible to play in both.
The reason lies in a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guideline that prevents any Indian cricketer from participating in more than one Under-19 World Cup. That rule, which came into force in 2016, was introduced to curb widespread age-fudging in junior cricket and to ensure broader opportunities for emerging players.
Under this protocol, players such as Sooryavanshi — who was only 14 during the 2026 tournament — will not be eligible for the 2028 or 2030 editions, even though he would still fall under the ICC age limit of under 19 at those times.
The policy’s roots trace back to concerns voiced by former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, who warned against the culture of age manipulation in Indian cricket. At the time, Dravid described age-fraud practices as “dangerous and even toxic,” arguing that they set a harmful example for young athletes, reported Hindustan Times.
For Sooryavanshi, the limitation is a bittersweet outcome. After leading India to a commanding U19 World Cup title and etching his name in youth cricket history, he now moves into the next phase of his career — with senior international honours the next target.
