Bad news for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul? BCCI takes stern step to promote 'team unity'

BCCI has made sterner rules for Indian players on tours. Now family time is restricted and the team has to always travel like a complete unit

Published: Tuesday,Jan 14, 2025 10:54 AM GMT-07:00

Urmimala Banerjee

India has lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia in the most humiliating manner. It has raised questions on the inclusions of some senior players in the team who do not seem to be performing for a long time. As per a report in Aaj Tak, the BCCI has decided to take some stern action to promote team unity. It has been reported that wives and families of cricket players are now allowed just two weeks with them on a foreign tour. Moreover, no cricketer can travel solo for a series or tournament from other places. The whole team has to travel together for matches.

Netizens have said that this is a rather dictatorial move. When Virat Kohli became team captain, he was supportive of wives and kids being with players on tour. However, the spate of poor performances from Team India has reportedly prompted BCCI to do a re-think. Indian cricketers have been trolled a lot for using foreign tours for vacations and honeymoons in recent past. Fans have complained that the sense of team spirit seems missing as every player is busy with his family. Many felt this move was because of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. The actress was with him throughout the whole tour of Australia. Moreover, he has been travelling for tours from London all alone without other team members.

The BCCI has also decided to restructure the pay system based on performances. Quite a number of players were travelling with their wives and kids for the Australian tour. Virat and Anushka are now in Mumbai. After spending a day with Swami Premanand Ji Maharaj in Vrindavan, the two headed to Alibaug. But they returned back to Mumbai really soon making us wonder if they are going to fly back to London. There are reports that the couple have got a place in a gated community in the UK, and their daughter is enrolled there in a playschool. The cricketer says he loves London and the sense of anonymity is surreal.