This Friday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15 year old teenager, is likely to make history by making his much anticipated India debut in the first Twenty20 International against Ireland in Belfast. Despite being a member of the team, the 15-year-old will not always be permitted to enter the Indian dressing room during the England T20Is because of procedures established by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Any player under the age of sixteen is required by law to utilize a different facility. Sooryavanshi will therefore have a personal changing room at each location. He will only be permitted inside the squad dressing room for team meetings and games, according to an article published in The Guardian. He will utilize the personal changing room that the ECB has designated for him at all other times. Sooryavanshi traveled to the UK with his parents, who will assist him in adjusting to his new surroundings.
According to the source, “Sooryavanshi will be allowed in the India dressing room during the game and can attend team talks, with the restriction only applying when he is getting changed before and after each match.”
“Arsenal’s Max Dowman used a separate changing room from his teammates last season until he turned 16 in December. Such measures are standard practice in English sport, but they will be new to Sooryavanshi as they do not apply in India.”
The rise of Sooryavanshi has been quite remarkable. Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut against Pakistan in November 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days, holds the record for being the youngest cricket player to represent India. Sooryavanshi will surpass that record in just 15 years and 91 days if he plays on Friday.
Before India travels to England for games in Durham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, and Southampton, the two Twenty20 Internationals against Ireland will take place in Belfast on Friday and Sunday. To guarantee that each site has a distinct space for Sooryavanshi, the ECB and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) are collaborating closely.