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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 15 year old IPL star accused of ‘child labour’, threat of FIR creates uproar. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Ipl Child Labor Row Activist Threatens Fir

Sanjeev Kumar | May 7, 2026 1:23 AM CST

There has been controversy over Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old player Vaibhav Suryavanshi playing in the IPL. A social activist has threatened to file an FIR against the team, calling it 'child labour'. His argument is that Vaibhav should study at this age.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is making waves with his bat in the IPL, is suddenly embroiled in a legal and ethical controversy. A social worker has threatened to lodge an FIR against him for playing in IPL. Suryavanshi has been a part of the IPL since last season and has become an important part of RR's batting line-up with his explosive batting and fearless stroke-play. His batting has taken the cricket world by storm and he is being considered as one of the most promising young talents in the league.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who turned 15 in March this year, is the highest run-scorer for the Royals in this IPL season. He has scored 404 runs in 10 matches at an average of 40.40 and an excellent strike rate of 237.64, which includes one century and two half-centuries. These figures have further strengthened his reputation as one of the most explosive young batsmen of the tournament.

'He should concentrate on studies'

Amid Vaibhav Suryavanshi's sensational success in the IPL, a social activist from Karnataka has courted controversy by questioning his playing professional cricket at such a young age. During a debate on a local Kannada news channel, a CM activist named Shivakumar Nayak said that a teenager should focus on his studies instead of participating in professional cricket, especially the IPL. He argued that considering Vaibhav's age, his playing raises ethical and legal questions.

"This 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals boy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, is being exploited. He is just a kid, just 15 years old, and they have brought him to the IPL to play professional cricket. This is nothing but child labour," the activist said, according to Republic World.

He further said, "How can they expose a minor boy to such a big league? Instead of playing cricket at this tender age, he should concentrate on his studies, go to school and complete his education."

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These words of CM Shivkumar Nayak probably stem from the concern that minors should not play in a high-intensity tournament like IPL, where the pressure of commercial commitments, travel schedules and competition can be too much for a player of such a young age.

Activist started debate on child labor

Speaking further on Vaibhav Suryavanshi's playing, the Karnataka social activist termed it as 'child labour' and reiterated his demand for legal action against the Rajasthan Royals franchise, including the possibility of filing an FIR.

CM Shivkumar Nayak said, "I strongly condemn this, and I will file a police complaint or a legal case against the Rajasthan Royals management for violating child rights and child labor laws."

He further said, "Don't let this boy play IPL cricket, this is child labour, he should study."

Child labor laws in India state that children under 14 years of age are prohibited from working in any profession or process, while adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age are prohibited from doing hazardous work. However, there are some relaxations, such as activities such as sports and entertainment, which are allowed under regulated conditions.

In the case of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, his playing is not considered child labor under Indian law, but part of a regulated professional sport.

Activists trolled over 'child labour' statement

Karnataka social activist CM Shivkumar Nayak's statement on Vaibhav Suryavanshi playing in IPL has become the reason for heavy criticism and trolling on social media, especially X (earlier Twitter). Fans and cricket lovers are questioning his interpretation of child labor laws in the context of professional sports.

On their His argument is that Suryavanshi is playing professional cricket with the approval of BCCI and is performing brilliantly at the highest level. Many mocked him for comparing it to child labor and defended his right to pursue his sport.

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Let us tell you that Vaibhav Suryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the mega auction of IPL 2025 for Rs 1.1 crore, making him the youngest millionaire in IPL history at that time. This young batsman proved his worth in his debut IPL season last year itself. He scored 252 runs in 7 matches at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 206.55, which included one century and one half-century. In his IPL career so far, Suryavanshi has scored 656 runs in 17 matches at an average of 38.58 and a strike rate of 224.65, which includes two centuries and 3 half-centuries.