India’s national cricket coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) new family rule that restricts the time players can spend with their families during tournaments. The rule was implemented following India’s 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, limiting family stays to 14 days for tournaments lasting 45 days or longer, and seven days for shorter tours.The BCCI’s decision came as part of new guidelines aimed at maintaining players’ focus during international cricket tours. The rule has sparked discussion within the cricket community, with former captain Virat Kohli expressing his disapproval. Kohli earlier said that he doesn’t want to head back to his room and sit and sulk without his family around.Gambhir shared his perspective during a special interview with Cheteshwar Pujara, emphasizing that players’ primary purpose is to represent the nation rather than being on holiday.“Families are important, but you’ve got to understand one thing. You are here for a purpose. It’s not a holiday. You’re here for a huge purpose. You’ve got very few people in that dressing room or in this tour that gets this opportunity to make the country proud. So yes, I’m not against not having families with us.”
The Indian coach acknowledged the importance of family support while maintaining that the ultimate goal of representing the country should take precedence.“It is important to have families, but if your focus is towards making our country proud and you have a much bigger role than any other thing, and you’re committed to that goal, you’re committed to that cause, I think everything else is fine. But for me, I think that cause and that goal is more important than any other thing.”
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During the interview, Pujara asked Gambhir about his ability to disconnect from work after matches. The coach revealed his constant engagement with team strategies and planning.“That’s a tough question. I still haven’t understood how do I switch off because I never switch off and sometimes it’s very funny and it’s very weird. Honestly, when we won the last test match, the moment we won the last test match, the first thing that came in my mind was that what is going to be the combination for the next Test?”The new family rule represents a significant change in how the Indian cricket team manages player-family interactions during tours. While some players, like Kohli, have voiced concerns about the restrictions, the team management under Gambhir maintains that professional commitments should remain the primary focus.
