India U-19 star Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been marked absent for his CBSE Class 10 board examinations, with cricket commitments taking precedence as his career trajectory accelerates.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) began the Class 10 board exams on February 17, with papers scheduled to run until March 11. Despite completing formalities, including submission of his examination form and issuance of his admit card, Suryavanshi did not report to his allotted centre at Poddar International School on the opening day.
School confirms absence under CBSE policy
Confirming the development, Poddar International School principal NK Sinha told ANI:
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi aaj absent hain. Woh exam centre par nahi aaye hain. CBSE ki policy ke mutabik humne unhe absent mark kar diya hai. Agar koi student exam mein present nahi hota hai, toh humein use absent hi darj karna padta hai. Humein umeed thi ki woh exam dene aayenge, lekin unki aur bhi kai zimmedariyan hain. Ho sakta hai cricket match ho ya practice ho. Mujhe lagta hai ki woh agli baar zaroor exam denge.” (“He is absent today. He has not come to the examination centre. We have marked him absent according to the policy of CBSE… If a student is absent, we have to mark him absent… We were expecting him to come and give the examination, but there are many other obligations. There could be a cricket match or a practice… I think he will definitely take the next exam.”)
#WATCH | Samastipur, Bihar: On Indian U-19 cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi not appearing for the CBSE Class 10th exam, Principal of Podar International School, NK Sinha, says, "He is absent today. He has not come to the examination centre. We have marked him absent according to the… pic.twitter.com/OAIP5bqrX6
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2026
Under CBSE regulations, students who fail to appear for an examination are officially recorded as absent, regardless of prior registration.
A breakout year on the field
Suryavanshi’s absence comes amid a defining phase in his cricketing journey.
At the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, he finished as India’s leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall in the tournament. Across seven innings, he amassed 439 runs at an average of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.50, registering one century and three fifties.
He signed off in emphatic fashion in the final, hammering 175 off just 80 balls — an innings featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes — earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.
IPL rise with Rajasthan Royals
Suryavanshi’s rapid ascent has also translated into franchise cricket.
He secured a ₹1.1 crore (approx. $135,000) deal with Rajasthan Royals during the IPL mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, becoming the youngest player in IPL history. In the 2026 season, he is set to feature under the captaincy of Riyan Parag.
Last season, he scored 252 runs in seven matches at an average of 36.00 and a striking strike rate above 200. His campaign included a 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans, making him the youngest T20 centurion and the first Indian to record the fastest IPL fifty. He also announced his arrival with a first-ball six on debut.
Balancing books and bat
For emerging cricketing talents, academic commitments often collide with professional schedules — particularly during international tournaments and franchise seasons.
In Suryavanshi’s case, the timing of the CBSE examinations overlaps with a critical period in his development as one of India’s most closely watched teenage prospects. While he has been officially marked absent this cycle, school authorities expressed confidence that he will attempt the examination in a future session.
As his on-field achievements continue to gather momentum, the challenge of balancing education and elite sport is becoming part of the broader narrative around one of Indian cricket’s brightest young stars.
