BCCI AGM: Suryavanshi participation in IPL kicks up debate

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has reignited the debate over the age eligibility for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now compelled to revisit the rule after points were raised about his participation in the last edition, where the precocious teenager from Bihar produced a sensational performance, representing Rajasthan Royals..

After dismantling IPL bowlers in typically belligerent fashion, he has now left the administrators equally pulverised. Not long ago, the International Cricket Council (ICC) was compelled to revisit the minimum age rule for senior cricket, following Suryavanshi's sensational IPL debut and on Sunday, the BCCI too was forced to re-examine its criteria.

At just 14, Suryavanshi lit up IPL 18 with 252 runs in seven games, including a century and a half-century. His exploits sparked questions over the minimum age to play in the league, an issue that surfaced at the BCCI AGM on Sunday, leaving the board to provide explanations.

Sanjay Naik, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) representative, questioned the rules that allowed a 14-year-old in the IPL. He pointed out that the MCA itself did not permit under-16 players in its own league, T20 Mumbai, despite having plenty of youngsters available. The existing policy, he noted, has been to bar under-16 players from the IPL and restrict them to T20 formats, which are played only at the senior level.

IPL CEO Hemang Amin intervened in the debate, clarifying that Suryavanshi was allowed to play because he had already appeared in first-class cricket. He further explained to Naik that any age-group player becomes eligible for the IPL once he has featured in the Ranji Trophy.

Actually the relevant IPL rules say that an under 19 player, who has represented his state in a first class or List A game, will be eligible to register for the auction. Say the rules:

• For each Season, an U19 player is a player who is under the age of 19 on 1 April in the relevant

• An Indian U19 player may only register for a Player Auction if, on the date of the Player Auction, the player is registered as a player with a State Association and has played in at least one match in either First Class cricket or List A cricket. IPL matches are recognised as List A cricket.

• For the avoidance of doubt, the inclusion of an U19 player in the India U19 team/squad does not, of itself, entitle such a player to be registered for a Player Auction.

• An Overseas U19 player may only register for a Player Auction if, on the date of the Player Auction, the player is registered with his local cricket authority and has previously played in First Class cricket or List A cricket. IPL matches are recognised as List A cricket.

The IPL's eligibility guidelines circulated to franchises make no mention of under-16 players. With the AGM clarifying that Suryavanshi was eligible as he had already played first-class cricket for Bihar, a precedent appears to have been set. This could potentially open the door for other talented under-16 players to feature in the league in the future.