Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @mufaddal_vohra/x]
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for implementing the new ‘family’ rule on overseas tours. It is worth noting that earlier this year, shortly after India’s humiliating 1-3 defeat in Australia, the BCCI implemented several guidelines, one which included a strict restriction of players over spending time with family or relatives during an away series or tournament.
Gambhir said that while spending time with family is important, the primary purpose for all players should remain focused on winning matches and representing the country with full commitment and discipline.
Gautam Gambhir Says He’s “Not Against Family Time”
Earlier this year, Virat Kohli criticized BCCI’s strict guidelines of families not accompanying players in India series or tournaments. Reacting to Kohli’s statements, current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that the player’s purpose should remain representing their country and making the fans proud.
During an interview with Cheteshwar Pujara amid the Test series in England, Gambhir said:
“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.”
“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.”
Gautam Gambhir is currently in England along with Team India players for a five-match Test series against the hosts. While England won the series-opener in Leeds by five wickets in a thrilling last hour of play, the Shubman Gill-led Indian team won the second by a record margin of 336 runs.