BCCI Requests Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Parents to Travel with Team India Abroad

BCCI Makes Special Exception for 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Invites Parents on Overseas Tours

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a rare exception for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, requesting his parents to accompany him on upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom following his maiden call-up to India’s T20I squad.

At just 15 years old, Vaibhav is set to join the senior national team for the first time, prompting the BCCI to take additional measures to ensure the youngster’s comfort and well-being as he transitions into an adult dressing room environment. If he makes his debut, Vaibhav will become India’s youngest international cricketer, eclipsing the record set by Sachin Tendulkar.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained that the board’s decision was driven by Vaibhav’s age and unique circumstances. “As he is still a minor and will be travelling with a senior men’s team made up entirely of adults, we felt it was appropriate for a parent or family member to accompany him,” Saikia said.

The BCCI has already facilitated arrangements for Vaibhav’s father to travel to Sri Lanka and is prepared to extend similar support should the family wish to accompany him on the subsequent tour of England.

“This is not something we normally allow. But Vaibhav is only 15, and we want him to feel comfortable while adapting to the senior setup. He will need time to adjust to the adult world of international cricket, and we are trying to make that transition smoother,” Saikia added.

Agarkar: Vaibhav ‘Picked Himself’

Vaibhav’s meteoric rise has left selectors with little choice but to fast-track him into the national side. The explosive left-hander has emerged as one of India’s brightest young prospects after a string of standout performances in age-group cricket and the Indian Premier League.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said the teenager’s performances made his selection inevitable.

“I think he has just picked himself, really,” Agarkar said after announcing the squad.

Praising the youngster’s impact in high-pressure situations, Agarkar highlighted Vaibhav’s maturity, consistency and game-changing ability, noting that he had backed up an impressive debut IPL season with another outstanding campaign.

“We’ve all seen what he can do. For someone so young to perform in such a competitive and pressure-filled environment is special. He’s an explosive player and someone who can change games quickly. Naturally, there are high hopes for him,” Agarkar said.

India’s T20I Squad for UK Tour

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.