15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will follow special safeguarding protocols in England and Ireland as ECB regulations require under-16 players to use separate changing facilities.

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India’s teenage cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be required to use a separate dressing room from his senior India team-mates during the upcoming white-ball tour of England, in line with safeguarding regulations enforced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for players under the age of 16.

The 15-year-old left-handed batter will still be permitted to attend team meetings, strategy sessions, and remain in the main dressing room during matches. However, when changing clothes, he must either use a separate designated room or access the main dressing room at a different time from the rest of the squad. The arrangement is part of the ECB’s child protection policies and is not related to any disciplinary or cricketing matter.

Similar safeguarding measures will also be in place during India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast. At the Civil Service Cricket Ground in Stormont, Indian team officials have reportedly been allocated additional rooms to ensure compliance with local regulations regarding underage athletes.

The practice is not unique to cricket. In English football, young stars Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use separate changing facilities when appearing for Arsenal’s senior side before turning 16, under comparable safeguarding guidelines.

An ECB spokesperson confirmed that extensive safeguarding procedures have been implemented for Sooryavanshi’s tour. The Cricket Regulator, county safeguarding officers, and India’s Team Liaison Officer have worked together to conduct risk assessments and ensure all venue protocols are properly followed.

The ECB also noted that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him throughout the tour and stay in the same hotel as the Indian team. While this falls outside standard protocol, the arrangement has been approved because of the player’s age and the additional support it provides.

Although the ECB referenced ICC safeguarding procedures, sources indicate that ICC regulations do not specifically govern under-16 participation in bilateral international series. The measures being applied are primarily based on local safeguarding requirements in the United Kingdom.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Sooryavanshi’s parents would travel with him, with all expenses being covered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Despite his young age, Sooryavanshi has already gained experience in professional dressing rooms through domestic cricket, India A assignments, and his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His rapid rise has made him one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket.

If selected for either of the T20I series against Ireland or England, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest player ever to make his debut for the Indian men’s cricket team, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 16 years and 205 days.

India’s tour begins with two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by a five-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series in England. Cricket fans will be eagerly watching to see whether the teenage sensation takes another historic step in his rapidly developing career.