Explained: Why Vaibhav will have separate dressing room on India’s England tour

Fifteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is making headlines not just for his meteoric rise to India's senior cricket squad, but for a unique arrangement on the ongoing white-ball tour of Ireland and England: he'll have a separate dressing room. This isn't a slight, but a mandatory child safeguarding protocol enforced by the ICC, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Cricket Ireland for players under 16, ensuring his well-being in a professional adult environment. Sooryavanshi, who narrowly missed becoming India's youngest men's international debutant in today's T20I against Ireland, is currently 15 years and 71 days old, poised to surpass Sachin Tendulkar 36-year-old record. His inclusion comes on the back of a stunning IPL season where he was the highest scorer with 776 runs, breaking Chris Gayle's record for most sixes, and recently smashed the fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls. While he'll have his private space for changing, he's fully integrated into team meetings and strategic discussions, with his parents also accompanying him on the tour as an added layer of support. As the India squad navigates its two T20Is against Ireland before heading to England for a five-match T20I series and three ODI, all eyes will be on when Sooryavanshi finally gets his cap. His presence underscores a growing focus on nurturing prodigious talent within structured welfare frameworks, setting a new precedent for how young athletes are integrated into elite-level competition while prioritizing their protection. What this means for future youth prospects in international cricket, and how Sooryavanshi adapts to the senior stage, remains a compelling watch.