Why will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have to use separate changing room during England tour?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his national call-up in the T20I series against Ireland and England.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to play for India for the first time in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland. The encounters will take place on June 26 and 28. He is expected to make his debut in the series.

After the Ireland tour, Soorayavanshi is also part of the crucial T20I series against England next month. India and England are set to clash in five T20I games, followed by a three-match ODI series.

Since Sooryavanshi has impressed in every format or level he has played so far, he is highly expected to get opportunities in the England tour. Since India will play a total of seven T20I games against Ireland and England, Sooryavanshi is expected to play at least one game.

Sooryavanshi impressed with his fabulous performance in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The left-handed batsman finished as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs and won the Orange Cap. He played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) journey to the Qualifier 2 and also snatched five crucial tournament awards.

Following his impeccable performance in IPL 2026, domestic cricket, and junior Indian team since the start of this year, selectors had no choice left but to give him a chance in the national team.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won’t share the dressing room with Indian team

Despite being part of the T20I squad against England, Vaibhav will not be allowed to share the dressing room with the rest of the Indian players, according to a report by Ali Martin of The Guardian.

In accordance with ICC rules and ECB protocols, players under the age of 16 are not allowed to share rooms with adult players.

“Sooryavanshi will be permitted 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,” a report by Guardian said.

“Sooryavanshi will be permitted 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,” the report further added.

Therefore, Vaibhav will only share the dressing room with Indian players during matches and team meetings. However, he will have a separate changing room. He will also stay in a separate room in the same team hotel with his parents.

They will be allowed to travel with Vaibhav during the tour and stay in the team hotel, a special facility and exception approved by ECB due to his age. Moreover, these rules could also be applied during the Ireland series, as it is also part of the United Kingdom (UK).

“This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction. A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may, in some circumstances, be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times. The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK,” the ECB told The Guardian.

Notably, separate changing rooms for under-16 athletes are a standard practice in English sport. Since no such rules exist in India, Vaibhav has been allowed to share rooms with senior players of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

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