Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents requested to travel with Team India on overseas tours

The Indian Cricket Board has made special provisions for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in tours of Sri Lanka and UK. The BCCI has asked Vaibhav's parents to travel with Team India as the 15-year-old assimilates into the national setup.

In Short

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named in India's T20I team
• 15-year-old Vaibhav could become India's youngest debutant
• BCCI has asked Vaibhav's parents to travel with Team India

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to travel with the 15-year-old on India's tours to Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. The board's request comes right after the national selectors called up Vaibhav to the T20I team.

The BCCI made special provisions for young Vaibhav, who will be assimilating into an adult squad for the first time in his career. The youngster could become the youngest debutant ever for India, surpassing the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut at 16 years and 207 days.

India T20 Squad Selection: Full Details

Speaking to Hindustan Times, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that while the board does not usually allow parents to accompany players on tours, special permission was given to Vaibhav and his family as India try to bring a special talent into the national fold.

“He was selected to go with the senior team from the India A team to Sri Lanka. As he is a small child, he is still a minor. When he is travelling with the men's team, who are all adults, therefore, we deem it proper that his parents or anybody from the family can travel with him to Sri Lanka,” Saikia said.

“We will make a request to his parents. If they are willing to go, then they can go. In fact, his father is travelling to Sri Lanka tomorrow. That is our thinking. And after that, if his parents also wish to go to England, BCCI will support that because he is a kid. So, he would need some time to assimilate with the senior boys. So, from that perspective, we are helping. This is not something we allow all parents to do. It is not that, but because he is 15 years old, he should feel comfortable, and he should take some time to adjust to the adult world,” the BCCI secretary added.

AGARKAR SHOWS FAITH IN VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's incredible performances forced the Indian selectors to fast-track the age-group cricketer into the national team. Vaibhav has already scored over a thousand runs in the Indian Premier League in just 23 matches. His ability to hit the ball hard and his temperament in dealing with tough situations have made him one of the favourites for the T20I opening slot.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar spoke in detail about selecting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the T20I squad, stating that the 15-year-old had pretty much selected himself with sensational performances in Under-19 tours and the IPL.

"I think he has just picked himself, really," Agarkar told the media in Mumbai on Saturday, June 6.

"What do you say? We've seen what he can do. You saw even towards those playoffs, he almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals," he added.

"For a young kid, I don't need to talk about how well he's batting or how well he's playing. And it's not just this season. He obviously had a great start last season, and to back it up, for a young kid in a competition that's as competitive and as high-pressure an environment as this, is special," Agarkar said.

"How explosive he can be and the game-changer that he can be... we've, like everyone else who's watched cricket, or at least watched T20 cricket in India, got high hopes of him," he added.

INDIA'S T20I SQUAD FOR UK TOUR

Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), 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, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

- Ends