Setback for Gautam Gambhir and Anushka Sharma as BCCI plans tougher rules: Report

Following India’s underwhelming 2024-25 Test campaign, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering tougher rules for players. The board believes that players’ performances during overseas tours suffer when they stay with their families for extended periods. To address this, the BCCI plans to reintroduce a rule that was in place before 2019, limiting families’ stays with players.

Reports suggest that the BCCI will only allow players’ families, particularly wives, to stay for two weeks during a 45-day tour. The board also plans to discourage solo travel for players. Instead, every player must travel with the team in the bus, ensuring more team unity.

In addition, the BCCI has decided to impose stricter guidelines on head coach Gautam Gambhir and his manager, Gaurav Arora. Arora will no longer be allowed to stay in the team hotel or sit in the VIP box at stadiums. He won’t be permitted to travel in the team bus either, nor in the bus following it.

The BCCI also plans to tighten rules on air travel. Players will be required to pay for any luggage exceeding 150 kg, instead of the board covering the cost.

During a meeting with BCCI’s top executives, including newly-appointed officials, key topics such as the future of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were discussed. The tenure of Gambhir’s coaching staff was also a major topic. BCCI officials proposed that the support staff’s term should be limited to three years, as they feel team performance has plateaued with long-serving members.

These proposed changes show the BCCI’s commitment to ensuring high performance and maintaining discipline within the team.