The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allowed the parents of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to accompany him on India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England, with secretary Devajit Saikia saying the teenager needs support as he adjusts to life in a senior team environment.
The decision comes ahead of Sooryavanshi’s maiden call-up to the Indian T20 set-up, where he is expected to feature in seven matches across the two countries. The move underlines the board’s cautious approach toward nurturing one of Indian cricket’s brightest young talents, balancing elite exposure with age-appropriate support structures.
“You see, not all national teams at the senior level have a 14 or 15-year-old in their squad. After many decades, we have someone like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI.
Saikia explained that the board’s priority is ensuring that Sooryavanshi transitions smoothly into professional cricket without being overwhelmed by the demands of international touring. The teenager has attracted significant attention with his performances at age-group and domestic levels, making his inclusion in the senior setup a major milestone in his development.
“At one point in time, it was Sachin Tendulkar who made it to the national team at such a young age. When such a young kid is part of the senior team, there are obviously a lot of issues that can crop up. Therefore, to make him comfortable and help him get used to an adult environment, where all the other players are above 18 years of age, and the team management members are also adults, we felt it would be helpful.”
Referencing the case of a school student accompanied by their teacher during excursions, Saikia said: “Even when a school student goes on an excursion, there is usually a senior person accompanying them. Vaibhav is still a kid. He has only just come out of school, or is perhaps in his final year of school.”
“So, we thought it proper to allow his parents to travel with him. I am very happy that his parents are also taking good care of their kid, who is an asset for Indian cricket not only now but for the next two or three decades.”
The upcoming tour, which begins on June 26 in Belfast, will provide Sooryavanshi with his first sustained exposure to international-level competition alongside senior players. BCCI officials believe the presence of his parents will help him adapt to unfamiliar surroundings while maintaining focus on his cricket.
NO ACTION ON ON-FIELD ALTERCATION
Saikia also rejected speculation that the BCCI was considering disciplinary action against Sooryavanshi following his recent on-field altercation with Sri Lanka A cricketer Vishen Halambage during an India A match.
The incident occurred after an exchange of words between the two players, with Sooryavanshi appearing to push Halambage when the Sri Lankan approached him during the confrontation. The episode generated discussion on social media, with some reports suggesting the BCCI could intervene.
“A lot of things are going on in the social media that BCCI is contemplating action, etc. Do you want the BCCI to step into the domain of match referee?” Saikia said.
He stressed that matters arising from incidents on the field fall under the jurisdiction of match officials rather than the board itself.
“The BCCI is not an authority, we should not intrude into the area where the match referee and the umpires are the main persons who can take any decision regarding any incident that had happened in the playground,” he added. “Whatever had happened, it was a part of the game, and the BCCI have no role to play. The role is of the match referee. If anything is going wrong, he will take a call, the umpires will take a call, and there is a system in place.”
Saikia’s comments effectively put an end to speculation surrounding possible disciplinary measures, while reinforcing the board’s commitment to supporting Sooryavanshi as he takes the first steps of what many hope will be a long international career.
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