BCCI cracks down on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's families post-BGT disaster; Gautam Gambhir faces trouble

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing new guidelines for players and coaching staff after a review meeting in Mumbai with head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and captain Rohit Sharma to review the team’s performance in Australia.

The BCCI is considering reinstating pre-2019 rules that were relaxed due to COVID-19. An official working at the BCCI's Mumbai office told Dainik Jagran that a key suggestion to limit the duration for which Indian players' wives and families can accompany them on tours was floated.

Stricter policies for the Indian Cricket Team set to be enforced by BCCI

And now the BCCI is serious about re-implementing the past rules for the overseas tours. The Indian cricket board has observed that having family members present throughout a tour, especially during long overseas tournaments, impacts players' performance, and it was the same case during India’s recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 failure in Australia.

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Under the new guidelines, family members of the Indian cricket team players and support staff will be allowed to stay for 14 days on tours lasting 45 days or more, while they can stay for 7 days on the shorter tours. The BCCI is all set to take this call after several players’ families were present throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Additionally, the BCCI is also enforcing stricter travel policies for the players. In recent years, some players were allowed to use separate transport, but now all the players will be required to travel together on the team bus, whether they are senior or young players.

Gautam Gambhir faces action for traveling with personal manager

Meanwhile, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir will also have to face the consequences, as the BCCI officials were already not happy with him taking his personal manager, Gaurav Arora, everywhere, and now the board is taking action against him.

For the first time in Indian cricket, a head coach traveled with his personal manager, but now the board’s new rules will not allow Gautam Gambhir to accompany his manager at the team hotel. Additionally, Gambhir’s manager will not also be allowed to sit in the VIP box at the stadium or travel on the team bus or its support vehicle.

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BCCI to enforce new travel guidelines and short tenure for support staff

Additionally, if a player’s luggage exceeds 150 kg during air travel, the player will have to pay for this, as the BCCI will not cover the extra charges. The board has set a maximum three-year term for support staff, with a two-year term extendable by one year, as many members have been with the Indian cricket team for years, leading to stagnant performance.

If this rule comes into play, India’s many support staff will have to make way for the new ones very soon. However, there is no clarity on whether and when these rules would be enforced or already conveyed to the players or the support following the review meeting.