India head coach Gautam Gambhir has now responded to Virat Kohli’s subtle but sharp criticism of the BCCI’s revised rules around families travelling with players on overseas tours. Gambhir, in conversation with Cheteshwar Pujara during the broadcast of the ongoing Lord’s Test, didn’t hold back. He said that international cricket isn’t a vacation, and that national duty must remain paramount. He argued that families are important but there’s no hiding away from the fact that players need to put all their focus on serving the nation.
BCCI’s new rules on families
The Indian cricket team’s dismal Australia tour led to a major overhaul, with the BCCI cracking down on players’ family members accompanying them on long tours. This is the first time Gambhir has publicly addressed the new BCCI diktat that limits players’ family time to 14 days on tours longer than 45 days, and seven days for shorter tours. The policy was introduced in the aftermath of India’s 1-3 loss in Australia earlier this year. Prior to that, India lost a home Test series after 12 years.
Virat Kohli didn’t like it
The rule drew attention recently when Kohli, speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Sports Summit, said he doesn’t appreciate having to return to a lonely hotel room after emotionally draining days. Kohli believes people making such decisions do not understand how helpful it is for players to rejuvenate after a defeat.
“It’s very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something which is intense, which happens on the outside. I don’t think people have an understanding of what value it brings to a large extent. And I feel quite disappointed about that because it’s like people who have no control over what’s going on are kind of brought into conversations and put out at the forefront that, ‘oh, maybe they need to be kept away.”
“Not on holiday…” says Gambhir
Gambhir, however, sees it differently. “Families are important,” he acknowledged. “But you’ve got to understand one thing. You are here for a purpose. It’s not a holiday. You’re here for a huge purpose. There are very few people who get this opportunity to make the country proud. So yes, I’m not against not having families with us.”
“It is important to have families, but if your focus is towards making our country proud and you have a much bigger role than any other thing, and you’re committed to that goal, you’re committed to that cause, I think everything else is fine. But for me, I think that cause and that goal is more important than any other thing,” said Gambhir.
BCCI’s new rules for players
The disappointing Australia tour ended India’s supremacy in land down under. India lost the series 1-3 with captain Rohit Sharma dropping himself from the final match in Sydney after a string of poor performances.
However, the Indian board felt the “indiscipline” and the superiority complex of the players cost them the series. While BCCI never made an official announcement on the new policies, there has been enough chatter. Apart from the curb on families, other rules include:
Players are allowed to have family members with them for a maximum of two weeks on a tour of 45 days or more. For shorter tours, family members can accompany the players for a maximum period of a week. Players will need to pay for additional expenses if family members stay during the tour for more time than prescribed. Players must travel together in the team bus. Personal staff including managers, agents and chefs must stay in a separate hotel. During the off period, all players including seniors, must play domestic cricket.Ravindra Jadeja, meanwhile, was in the news for not travelling with the team bus. However, he wasn’t fined by the BCCI for breaching that particular rule. Jadeja had opted to come in early on Day 2 of the second Test in order to get some practice before the play resumed.
Gautam Gambhir vs Virat Kohli? India coach endorses BCCI’s family rules amid RCB star’s discontent Inside Sport India.
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