The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken several strict steps after India’s 1-3 BGT 2024-25 series loss to Australia. As per reports, the board has decided to curb the family time for the Indian players, by not allowing wives and girlfriends to travel with the players for the entire tour.
Sources added that it has been made mandatory for the players to travel together in team buses. They have also been asked to pay for extra luggage.
Multiple reports stated that not only was the Indian team smashed completely in the BGT 2024-25 five-Test series, but the dressing room environment was not alright.
The Indian squad suffered from a number of scandals during their tour of Australia, beginning with Rohit Sharma's dismissal from the team in the series' last game and the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle of the series, after playing only one Test.
During the Australia trip, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah traveled between venues with their young families separately, while the other players traveled together in the same plane and on the team bus. According to one source, the Indian squad did not share in the celebration of their historic victory in Perth.
As per the India Today report, all this has led to BCCI setting down strict rules for Indian team players for overseas tours regarding family and other matters.
Here are some of the rules suggested by BCCI:
1. If a tournament is a 45-day or longer event, families will only be allowed to stay with players for 14 days.
2. If the tour is shorter, the duration may be reduced to 7 days.
3. Wives cannot stay with players for the entire tournament.
4. Families can only stay for 2 weeks.
5. All players will have to travel on the team bus.
6. Gautam Gambhir's personal manager will not be allowed to sit in the VIP box or travel on the team bus. He will have to stay in a different hotel.
7. If players' luggage exceeds 150 kg, BCCI will not cover the extra charges, and players will have to pay them.
Following the Australia series, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir recently met with the BCCI for a review. The BCCI made the decision to steer clear of any rash decisions about the team's composition.
