Former India captain Virat Kohli has voiced his concerns over the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) newly implemented policy restricting players’ families from joining them on tours, saying that their presence plays a vital role in helping cricketers navigate the pressures of international cricket.
Speaking at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Kohli, 36, remarked that having family members around allows players to cope better during tough phases.
"It's very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something which is intense, which happens on the outside," ESPNcricinfo quoted Kohli as saying.
Earlier this year, after India’s 1-3 defeat in the Test series against Australia, the BCCI introduced a new rule restricting players’ families from accompanying them on tours shorter than 45 days. As per the policy, families can only join after the first two weeks and are allowed to stay for a maximum of 14 days.
Expressing his disappointment, Kohli said: "I don't think people have an understanding of what value it brings to a large extent. And I feel quite disappointed about that because it's like people who have no control over what's going on are kind of brought into conversations and put out at the forefront that, 'oh, maybe they need to be kept away'.”
‘Want to be able to be normal’
Kohli, who recently became the fastest cricketer to reach 14,000 runs in ODIs, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record, further emphasised that families provide a sense of normalcy and stability in a player’s life.
"If you ask any player, do you want your family to be around you all the time? You'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. And then you can really treat your game as something that is a responsibility. You finish that responsibility, and you come back to life," he said.
Kohli was a key figure in India's recent Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai, where the team secured its third title in the tournament’s history, following victories in 2002 and 2013. His wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, was seen cheering for him from the stands during the tournament.
The Indian batter played a crucial role in the campaign, registering a century against Pakistan in Dubai and an 84-run knock against Australia in the semi-final.
Following India’s victory in the final against New Zealand, Kohli was seen celebrating with Anushka, with their camaraderie quickly going viral on social media. Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s wife Ritika Sajdeh and their daughter Samaira were also present at the tournament.
The BCCI is yet to respond to Kohli’s remarks. However, the board’s decision to limit family presence on tours has sparked a debate on whether such restrictions impact player performance and mental well-being.
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