Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Required to Use Separate Changing Room on England T20 Tour

India’s 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will use a private changing room at each venue of the five-match T20 series against England. He may enter the Indian dressing room during matches and attend team talks, but the restriction applies when he changes before and after games. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is providing a dedicated facility at all five sites, and his parents will travel with him and stay in the same hotel throughout the tour.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi denied full access to India dressing room on UK tour, set for private facility: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and ECB enforce safeguarding procedures that prohibit players under 16 from sharing adult changing rooms. The ECB’s “Safe Hands” policy is active at all times, and any safeguarding concern may be managed by the ICC. These measures mirror standard practice in English sport, where youth athletes are given separate facilities until they reach the age threshold.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

At 15 years 91 days, Sooryavanshi would become India’s youngest international cricketer, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s 16 years 205 days record. He previously set IPL milestones: 252 runs at a strike-rate of 206.5 in his debut season, the youngest centurion with a 100 off 38 balls, 776 runs in the current IPL season, and a new record of 65 six-hits, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 14-year mark. In recent India A action he scored 94 off 29 balls and recorded the fastest List A fifty in 11 balls.

The Guardian

The ECB confirmed that the tour is an ICC-jurisdiction event, with safeguarding procedures fully operational. It noted that the ECB Safe Hands policy applies throughout, and any safeguarding issue could be addressed by the ICC. The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Indian team’s liaison officer to define requirements, while County Safeguarding Officers are coordinating with the liaison officer to ensure venue-specific protocols are followed. The board also highlighted that the player’s parents traveling with him provide an additional layer of support.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

The two T20 internationals in Belfast are governed by Cricket Ireland, and the safeguarding restrictions that apply in England are not expected to be enforced for those fixtures.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

• “This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction.” — ECB, Statement

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

• “A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may (in some circumstances) be managed by the ICC.” — ECB, Statement

The Guardian

• “Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments. It is our understanding that the player's parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members that can provide the additional level of support and care,” — ECB, Statement

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

• “Each county safeguarding officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the team liaison officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements (specifically changing room environments) are understood and adhered to.” — ECB, Statement

The Guardian

The arrangement underscores the application of rigorous safeguarding standards to elite youth athletes, setting a precedent for future under-16 selections in international cricket. It also illustrates collaborative oversight between the ICC, national boards, and local safeguarding officers to balance player development with welfare protections.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to use separate dressing room on England tour

India will face Ireland in two T20Is in Belfast on Friday and Sunday, then contest the England series at Durham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton, with continued monitoring by the ECB and ICC safeguarding teams.

The Guardian