Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s new rule that restricts players from spending time with their families during tournaments. The former Indian cricketer also said that players aren’t on vacation and must stay focused on their responsibilities.
Earlier this year, India suffered a 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the first time in three cycles. The BCCI announced a 10-point diktat during a review meeting, with the rule limiting family presence drawing mixed reactions.
Players' family members, including spouses and children, are allowed to join them for only a maximum of 15 days on away tours that are longer than 45 days. Notably, personal support staff, including managers, chefs, assistants, and private security personnel, have also been restricted.
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli openly criticized the rule. The right-handed batter had said that he doesn’t want to head to his room and just sit alone and sulk. Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket just ahead of India’s next red-ball assignment.
Gautam Gambhir shared his thoughts on the rule for the first time. He said that he isn’t against families joining the players, but added that the main focus should remain on national duty.
"Families are important, 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. You've got very few people in that dressing room or in this tour that gets this opportunity to make the country proud. So yes, I'm not against not having families with us," Gambhir said on Sony Sports in an interaction with Cheteshwar Pujara.
Goal Is More Important Than Any Other Thing - Gautam Gambhir
The Indian coach stated that representing the country should take precedence over all other considerations. Gambhir added that distractions must be managed with discipline.
"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."
Sometimes It's Very Funny and It's Very Weird - Gautam Gambhir
Cheteshwar Pujara asked Gautam Gambhir about disconnecting from work after a match. Gambhir admitted that he struggles to switch off, revealing that his mind is constantly occupied with team planning and strategy.
"That's a tough question. I still haven't understood how do I switch off because I never switch off and sometimes it's very funny and it's very weird. Honestly, when we won the last test match, the moment we won the last test match, the first thing that came in my mind was that what is going to be the combination for the next Test?"
India have faced a decline in Test cricket over the past year. They suffered a 0-3 series whitewash at home against New Zealand – their first home Test series defeat in 12 years.
Under Gautam Gambhir, the team has managed just four wins in 12 Tests, alongside seven defeats and one draw. India began the ongoing five-match series against England with a loss in Leeds but bounced back strongly with a win at Edgbaston to level the series 1-1.
Also read: Watch: Zak Crawley’s scary slip while running nearly ends in freak injury in Lord's Test
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