Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to become one of the biggest talking points during India's T20I tour of Ireland, but not just because of his cricket. The 15-year-old batting sensation will use a separate changing room from his India teammates during the Ireland and England series due to child safeguarding regulations in the United Kingdom.
If Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes his international debut against Ireland at Stormont on Friday, he will become India's youngest men's international cricketer, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record. However, before he even walks onto the field, special arrangements have already been put in place to comply with UK safeguarding laws.
Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have a separate dressing room
According to IANS, Cricket Ireland has confirmed that the Indian team has been allocated three separate rooms at the pavilion to ensure all child safeguarding regulations are followed.
A Cricket Ireland spokesperson told IANS that the arrangements have been made in accordance with UK law.
"The Indian team has been given three separate rooms in the pavilion, and safeguarding laws have been advised. We'll check all obligations have been met, but the BCCI will manage things in accordance with UK law. Our procedures and policies are in line with best practice in the UK."
The separate changing room is purely a legal requirement because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still a minor.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can still be with the India team
The separate changing room does not mean Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be isolated from the squad.
The teenage opener will continue to attend team meetings, strategy sessions, match briefings and spend time with his India teammates inside the main dressing room. The only restriction is that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate room while changing before and after matches.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will follow the same rules in England
The safeguarding arrangements for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will continue during India's five-match T20I series in England, beginning in Durham on 1 July.
According to IANS, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that both the ICC's safeguarding regulations and the ECB's Safe Hands policy will be followed throughout the series.
The ECB also told The Guardian that the Cricket Regulator is working closely with India's Team Liaison Officer to ensure all safeguarding requirements concerning Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are met.
In addition, safeguarding officers at every venue will coordinate with India's team management to ensure all changing room protocols are followed.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents will travel with him
According to IANS, the BCCI has made a special exception by allowing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him throughout the UK tour.
They will stay in the same hotel as the Indian team, despite this being outside the board's usual protocol.
The ECB said the presence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents provides additional reassurance that the teenager will receive the support and care expected for someone of his age during the tour.
Separate dressing rooms are common for young athletes
The arrangements involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are not unusual in European sport.
Many under-16 athletes are required to use separate changing facilities under safeguarding policies. Young Arsenal footballers Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri also followed similar procedures before turning 16.
The rules are designed to protect minors and are considered standard practice across professional sport in the UK.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is already familiar with senior dressing rooms
Although this will be a new experience under UK regulations, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is already accustomed to sharing cricket environments with senior players.
The youngster has represented Bihar in domestic cricket, played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and featured for India A, earning praise for his fearless batting against experienced opposition.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi closes in on historic India debut
As excitement builds around the Ireland series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could soon create history by becoming India's youngest men's international cricketer.
While the separate dressing room arrangements have attracted attention, they are simply part of UK safeguarding regulations and will have no impact on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's participation in training, team meetings or matches as he prepares for what could be the biggest moment of his young career.
India vs Ireland 1st T20I: Match details
- Date: Friday, 26 June
- Venue: Civil Service Cricket Ground, Stormont
- Time: 6:00 pm
- Live telecast: Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD
- Live streaming: SonyLiv website and app
India squad
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Ireland squad
Lorcan Tucker (captain), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector and Reuben Wilson.
Inputs from agencies
