Get ready to witness greatness, folks! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage sensation from India, is all set to make history as the youngest international cricketer to don the Indian jersey this summer. The 15-year-old whizkid is gearing up for a debut in a T20 international against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, before taking on England in a five-match T20 series that begins in Durham next Wednesday.
The ECB and ICC have implemented top-notch safeguarding procedures to protect Sooryavanshi's innocence, providing him with his own changing room at all venues - a standard practice in English sport, but a new experience for the young star who's used to sharing facilities with his teammates during stints in the Indian Premier League.
Sooryavanshi's parents will be accompanying him on this once-in-a-lifetime tour, and the ECB is working closely with the BCCI to ensure all necessary measures are in place. They're in regular contact with the Team Liaison Officer for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the young player while he's in the UK.
This kid has been making waves globally since his IPL debut as a 14-year-old last year, scoring over 1,000 runs and breaking records for hitting the most sixes in a season. And just to show he means business, Sooryavanshi prepared for the England tour by smashing five appearances for India A this month, including a remarkable 94 off just 29 balls against Sri Lanka A.