The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has banned Bengal and India U19 cricketer Rohit Yadav for two years after his age and birth records were found to be wrong as per BCCI's order. This comes ahead of India’s home series against Australia U19 and will force selectors to pick a replacement for the young player.
According to the report, the ban came into effect immediately and all BCCI-affiliated state associations have been notified. Rohit was included in India's U19 squad for home series against Australia U19 starting from September 18. The alleged errors in his official documentation have now made it a question of his participation in the series.
The issue was revealed during a documentation update of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) when it was checking and updating documents of its registered players including cricketers who were at club level. Questions were raised about all the birth certificates associated with Rohit’s name that are being reviewed in this process, a person said.
Rohit was found to have three birth certificates with different years of birth according to a report. The documents also listed 2007, 2009 and 2010 as his year of birth in his birth certificate and so he was not eligible for age-group cricket according to the documents.
According to a CAB source, multiple birth records made the player ineligible to participate. The matter was taken up by cricket authorities and action against the young Bengal cricketer was taken.
More questions were raised after changes were found in Rohit's Aadhaar records. His year of birth was changed to 2006 during an Aadhaar update in 2017. The year of birth was changed to 2009 again in 2021.
Rohit's address was also changed according to the reports. The previous documents listed an address in Uttar Pradesh, and the later records listed Howrah in West Bengal. Later records mentioned Liluah as his address.
The reported discrepancies have resulted in a two-year ban, meaning Rohit will miss out on important age-group and domestic opportunities during suspension. Rohit was in the U19 team recently so it’s a huge decision by the BCCI.
Rohit was part of the India U19 team that toured Sri Lanka in July. He made an impact in the two-match Youth Test series despite missing the opening match. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the series and showed impressive performance in the second match.
Rohit took six wickets in two innings in that match. His most important contribution was in the fourth innings, when he took four wickets and helped India to defeat Sri Lanka U19 by 260 runs. India eventually won by 211 runs and Rohit’s performance solidified his place in the age group.
Rohit had made the recent performances seem all too urgent and the reported ban was very important to him. Rohit was expected to continue his development with the India U19 team during the home series against Australia. Now that the suspension seems to have come into effect immediately, selectors will need to get another player for the series.
The case has also brought attention to a wider issue of player documentation and age verification in Bengal cricket. Rohit is among 62 players declared ineligible for registration or transfers in tournaments during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons because of discrepancies in their documentation and age records.
The list also includes other players who have experience at higher levels of the domestic game. Former India U19 World Cup winner Ravi Kumar is among those named, according to reports. Left-arm spin all-rounder Vishal Bhati, who has played three first-class and two List A games, has also made it to the list.
The development is a major challenge for Bengal cricket and its administrative system. Age verification is an important part of junior cricket, since age-group competitions and age-specific competitions are designed to give equal opportunities to the players of specific categories. A wrong or inconsistent record might affect eligibility and diminish trust in the selection process.
The documentation review by the CAB seems to be part and parcel of a larger effort to rectify irregularities and to ensure registered players meet eligibility requirements. A number of players have been punished and the outcome is the magnitude of the issue and the need to keep accurate records in club, state and age group cricket.
For Rohit Yadav, the young cricketer had recently shown promise at the international U19 level, and the reported two-year ban could interrupt an important stage of his development. When the India U19 squad is picked for the Australia series, his replacement will be announced by the selectors.
The case will continue to be under great scrutiny as cricket authorities continue to address documentation and age-related irregularities. It also serves as a reminder that accurate player records are essential for maintaining fairness and credibility in age-group cricket.
As India prepares for Australia U19, the focus now shifts to the replacement selection and the team's preparation for the series. Rohit and the other players’ age verification and player documentation will be the focus of Indian domestic cricket, as we know that is happening.
