India U19 World Cup-winning player Rajvardhan Hangargekar has been accused of age fudging. The all-rounder played a pivotal role in India’s campaign with both bat and the ball.
The Commissioner of Sports and Youth Department, Maharashtra, Omprakash Bakoria, has claimed that the young cricketer had committed age-fudging. According to Saamana newspaper, the IAS officer has written a letter to BCCI in which he has also sent evidence against the cricketer.
According to the report, Hangergekar’s actual age is 21. Rajvardhan Hangargekar, a student of Terna Public School, during readmission in class VIII, his birth date was changed from January 10, 2001, to November 10 2002 which made him eligible for the U19 World Cup.
Sports Commissioner of Maharashtra has written to the BCCI about the age manipulation by U19 Star Rajvardhan Hangargekar. (Reported by Saamana).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 18, 2022
The report further suggests that in his letter to the BCCI, Omprakash Bakoria sent evidence in the form of Dharashiv Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Gupta’s confirmation that Rajvardhan Hangergekar’s date of birth was changed.
“He always wanted me to play for CSK” – Rajvardhan Hangergekar on playing for CSK
The all-rounder was recently snared by Chennai Super Kings at the IPL 2022 auction for INR 1.5 crores. Incidentally, CSK and Mumbai Indians were at loggerheads for the talented all-rounder. Eventually, it was Chennai who won the race.
Reacting to his maiden IPL contract, Rajvardhan Hangargekar said:
“Winning the U-19 World Cup was a really good moment for all of us, this thing we will cherish for our entire life. Everyone wants to play in the IPL, by the time my name came up in the auction, that was the moment I got excited about. When MI and CSK were fighting it out for me in the auction, that was a great moment for me.”
A massive @msdhoni fan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar cannot wait to don the @ChennaiIPL's yellow to fulfill his father's dream. ☺️👏
He shares his emotions after winning the #U19CWC & getting picked by CSK for #TATAIPL. 👍 👍 – By @28anand
Full interview 🎥🔽https://t.co/Yb72KIuVg9 pic.twitter.com/Fnq20XJ1E9
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 18, 2022
He added:
“I have always been a die-hard fan of MS Dhoni, my father used to like CSK a lot, he really loved Dhoni and he always wanted me to play for CSK. I am really happy to play with his franchise.”