Why Vaibhav Sooryvanshi can’t share Team India’s changing room in England?

India’s batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, would not be permitted to share the same changing room with other players on England tour. The teenager batsman is set to get a separate changing room as part of the safeguarding regulations laid down by England and Wales cricket board (ECB).

India’s tour of Ireland, featuring two a two-match T20 International (T20I) series is scheduled to start in Belfast from Friday (June 26, 2026). Following the T20I series, Indian team will travel to England for five-match series from July 1 to July 19, 2026. During the entire England series, falling under the purview of England and Wales cricket board, Suryavanshi would not be part of adult changing rooms. Sooryavanshi’s parents would be accompanying him during his England tour.

Notably, Sooryvanshi was permitted to use the share the same dressing room with senior players during his stint at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.

What is ECB policy on changing rooms for U-16 players?

The ECB safeguarding regulations has a stern policy, prohibiting players under age 16 from changing or sharing rooms with adults under any circumstances. “Clubs should provide separate facilities or stagger changing times so children and adults are never changing together,” the rule mentions.

ECB Changing Rooms and Showering facilities rules

Further, the guidelines laid by the board states that, “If a player under 16 is part of an open-age (adult) team, they should either arrive already changed in their playing kit. Else, they may use a separate changing area”. However, team talks, involving tactical analysis or game plans, are permitted with everyone present provided nobody is changing or showering while under-16 players are in the room.

Moreover, the ECB also prohibits the use of mobile phones in changing rooms due to privacy and safety concerns.

Notably, ECB’s safeguarding regulations came into force in early 2000s, after broader child-protection reforms in UK sport. The earlier policies were lesser strict, which mandated that, “Adults must not change, or shower, at the same time using the same facility as children – if the same changing room is used then they must have different times”. However, in 2010, the guidance became standard across ECB-affiliated clubs, with county boards and clubs adopting policies requiring separate changing arrangements for juniors.

The prevailing rule made it’s way in November 2023 “Changing Rooms and Showering Facilities”, which explicitly bars players aged under 18 from sharing or changing rooms with adults.

Was Sachin Tendulkar allowed to use the changing room in his debut?

The batting icon Sachin Tendulkar was permitted to use dressing room when he debuted for India in November 1989 at the age of 16. Back then, no modern day regulations intervened from prohibiting Tendulkar from using the dressing room. The present day distinction is due to enhanced policies by cricket boards to ensure an inclusive and protective environment for players.

It is key to note that the International Cricket Council (ICC) never laid a clear policy which prohibited minors selected for senior international teams from using their dressing rooms. Likewise, the BCCI did not carry any such policies until late 1980s.

ECB’s response to the restrictions

According to a recent report by The Guardian, Sooryvanshi will face zero restrictions in accessing the room for team talks prior to the match, with the response coming in force only when he is getting changed after and before the match. To ensure Sooryavanshi does not face any hurdle, the ECB has looped in BCCI to ensure the appropriate measures are in place.

“This is an ICC sports event, with their safeguarding procedures actively under force,” the ECB said, adding that the cricket regulator is in touch with the team liaison officer for the Indian team to share the requirements of the player during his tour to England.

It further added that, “Each county safeguarding officer for the respective cricket venue is also working closely with the team liaison officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements (specifically changing room environments) are complied with. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments.

Besides, the ECB has confirmed that Sooryvanshi’s parents will be travelling with him during the entire schedule. In consideration with his age, the teen batter’s parents have been permitted to stay in the same hotel, though this falls outside of the protocol.