New Delhi: In a significant development which is expected to unify Indian team players and possibly yield better results in the future, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen the hard way, laying down stringent new rules for the men’s cricket team. The Indian cricket board, in a review meeting held with head coach Gautam Gambhir on January 11 after India’s recent setback in Australia, decided to finally crack the whip on Indian players presenting them with a New Year gift, albeit, a stern one.
From the successful Rahul Dravid-era to a mediocre first six months under the fiery Gautam Gambhir, a lot changed for the Men in Blue as success seemed to be far-fetched goal in the new era for Indian cricket. After emerging triumphant in the T20 World Cup 2024, India faced an ODI series loss against Sri Lanka which was followed by a humiliating 0-3 home Test series loss against New Zealand.
While it seemed that after the loss against Kiwis, there would be some light at the end of the tunnel for India but they again faced a 1-3 drubbing against the Aussies in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which came as a big jolt. After the appointment of Sitanshu Kotak as the new batting coach, BCCI on Thursday, announced stringent new rules for the men’s team players. From restrictions on taking families on tours to mandatory participation in the domestic matches to barring personal shoots during a series or tours, BCCI has clearly stated that they mean business from here on.
While there have been many players who have been diligent throughout, for some in the camp, the tough rules could impact a lot. Some members in the Men in Blue team have been flouting the rules in the past and with the new guidelines becoming mandatory, let’s take a look at who will be impacted the most.
Which players will be impacted the most?
While the biggies in a camp are expected to be the torchbearers for a side, the case in Team India is exactly the opposite. One of biggest names not only in India but world cricket, Virat Kohli comes up as a name who could be impacted the most after the announcement of the new guidelines. From the family travel policy to travelling separately for a tour to not participating in domestic matches, the megastar of Indian cricket has been observed flouting these rules among some others in the past few years.
As far as the family travel policy is concerned, skipper Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are some other players who will feel the heat. Both Rohit and Jadeja have been accompanied by their families in the past throughout a series or a tour and with the latest guidelines in place, both the veteran cricketers would certainly be impacted. The same rule could also witness an affect on pace spreadhead Jasprit Bumrah and star batter KL Rahul.
India’s T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav and flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya are some other names that strike the mind when it comes to players who will be affected the most with the new guidelines of BCCI. Both Suryakumar and Hardik were served home flavours with their personal chefs attending to them during the T20 World Cup 2024. Fussy about the home-cooked food, both the players will find it difficult to cope up with the new stringent rules.
Some youngsters in the Indian team will also face an impact from the new guidelines, with talented batter Shubman Gill observed flouting the new rule in the past. Ahead of the Perth Test match against Australia, Gill was seen busy in a personal photoshoot session, which has been barred under the new rules.
What happens to players who fail to comply?
All the Team India players are expected to adhere strictly to the new guidelines laid down by the Indian cricket board. As per BCCI’s release, non-compliance may lead to to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the board.
The disciplinary action may include either of the below stated points or both as per the severity ascertained by BCCI.
- Sanction against the player from participating in all BCCI conducted tournaments including the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- Deduction from retainer amount/match fees under BCCI Player contract.
Any exceptions or deviations must be pre-approved by the chairman of the selection committee and head coach.
The Indian cricket board has introduced a strict 10-point disciplinary policy prohibiting players from travelling with a personal staff and enforcing mandatory domestic cricket participation for selection in the national side. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
