London, June 24: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 15-year-old left-handed batsman who has captivated audiences with his explosive batting, will have a separate dressing room during India’s upcoming five-match T20 series against England. This measure is aimed at ensuring the safety of young players.
This protocol aligns with the strict under-16 safety guidelines established by both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
According to the rules, Suryavanshi will be allowed to enter the main Indian team’s dressing room for technical team meetings, strategy discussions, and conversations on match days. However, he will use a separate dressing room to change clothes at all five T20 match venues.
The ECB stated, “The cricket regulator is in contact with the Indian team’s liaison officer to discuss the player’s needs and expectations during his stay in the UK.”
Suryavanshi’s parents will accompany him throughout the UK tour, residing in the team’s official hotels. The Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devjeet Saikia, previously mentioned that the BCCI will fully sponsor the travel and accommodation expenses for Suryavanshi’s parents.
The ECB further added, “To our understanding, the player’s parents will be with him at all times. They will be staying in the same hotel, which is outside the usual protocol, but this agreement was made due to his age. This additional step gives us more assurance that family members are present to provide him with extra support and care.”
It remains unclear whether similar restrictions will apply during India’s two T20 matches against Ireland. Such separate protocols are common in European football, where young athletes like Arsenal’s Max Dowman had to use a separate changing room until they turned 16. However, Suryavanshi has previously shared dressing rooms with his teammates in Bihar, the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and India A.
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