'Playing for nation or on family vacation': Virat Kohli slammed for 'cheap' demand

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retain its contentious policy concerning family time allowed for international male cricketers, amid criticism from star player Virat Kohli.

BCCI Secretary, Devajit Saikia, defended the decision by highlighting its significance for the nation and the governing cricket body. Saikia clarified that the policy update is an extension of existing regulations and not a rash change.

This policy, which restricts family presence to two weeks during overseas tours lasting 45 days, has sparked discussion following India's recent series defeat to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The details of the policy were not initially publicly disclosed and are only flexible in exceptional circumstances requiring additional approvals.

BCCI’s Stance:

Cricbuzz reported Saikia’s stance, stating: “At this stage, the current policy will remain intact, as it is of paramount importance to both the nation and our institution, the BCCI.”

“The BCCI recognizes that there may be some resentment or differing opinions, as in a democratic setup, people are entitled to express their views. The policy is applied uniformly to all team members – players, coaches, managers, support staff, and everyone involved – and has been implemented with the best interests of everyone in mind,” the secretary who recently replaced Shah said.

“This policy has not been formulated overnight; it has been in place for decades, dating back to the playing days of our president, Roger Binny – and possibly even earlier,” he added.

Players’ Reaction:

Speaking at a Royal Challengers Bengaluru event, India run-machine Virat Kohli had earlier publicly criticised the policy, suggesting the decision-makers lack understanding of players’ personal and familial needs.

“If you ask any player, do you want your family to be around you all the time? They’ll be like, Yes. I don’t want to go to my room and just sit alone and sulk. I want to be able to be normal…. It is very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to come back to your family every time you have something intense happening on the outside I don’t think people have an understanding of what value it brings,” Virat had stated.

“I feel quite disappointed about that. People who have no control over what is going on are kind of brought into conversations and put out in the forefront. Maybe they need to be kept away,” he added.