The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently issued a directive, which prompted the comment.
Only 14 days of family time are permitted during lengthy tours, as the board has limited the duration of visits.
Virat Kohli, a senior batsman, recently discussed the value of players maintaining relationships with their families while on tour.
The BCCI’s order restricts family visits during lengthy tours. Families are not permitted to accompany players under the new BCCI rule until after the first two weeks of a tour lasting more than 45 days. For shorter tours, families are allowed for a maximum of one week.
After India’s recent defeat in the Australian Test series, the decision was made. Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, fell 1-3 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
A well-balanced approach Dev emphasizes need for balance
Kapil Dev, India’s World Cup-winning coach in 1983, emphasized the importance of balancing family time with team commitment. He said that a constant team is just as important as a family when he spoke at the “Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational” event. He recalled how, during his time, teams would prioritize cricket before calling families during later portions of their tours.
Player support
Kohli voices support for family presence on tours
Virat Kohli, the backbone of Team India, earlier spoke in favor of having family members travel with players on tours. He feels personal support is important during tough times on the field.
Kohli said at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit: “If you ask any player, do you want your family to be around you all the time? You’ll be like, yes.”
Added support
The presence of family encourages players to assume more responsibility. Further elaborating, Kohli stated that players may be able to take on more responsibility if they have family nearby during exhausting tours, particularly during trying times. He emphasized the significance of not being locked up in hotel rooms but rather being “normal.” Notably, the BCCI has also applied the same family restrictions to the IPL for the 2025 season. As per these guidelines, families are not permitted in the dressing room and have to travel separately instead of team busses.