Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli has voiced his thoughts on BCCI’s new rule restricting players’ families from accompanying them on tours. The 36-year-old, who recently played a key role in India’s third Champions Trophy win after 2002 and 2013, emphasized the importance of family support during challenging phases on tour.
After India’s 1-3 loss in the Test series against Australia earlier this year, the BCCI introduced a new policy restricting players’ families from joining them on tours. Under the new rule, partners and children can only accompany players on tours lasting over 45 days, but only after the first two weeks and for a maximum stay of 14 days.
“It’s very hard to explain to people how grounding it is to return to your family after experiencing something intense on the field,” Kohli said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit ahead of IPL 2025.
“I don’t think people fully understand the value it brings. It’s disappointing because people who have no control over the situation are being dragged into the conversation and positioned as if they need to be kept away,” Kohli added.
‘Want to be able to be normal’
Kohli, who recently became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar‘s record, stressed that having family around during tours helps players handle their responsibilities better.
“If you ask any player if they want their family around all the time, the answer would be yes. I don’t want to sit alone in my room and sulk. I want to feel normal. That way, you can treat the game as a responsibility — you finish it and then return to life,” Kohli said.
During the Champions Trophy, Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, was seen cheering for him from the stands. After India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final in Dubai, Kohli celebrated the victory with Anushka, and their moments of joy went viral on social media.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh, and their daughter, Samaira, were also present during the tournament. Kohli was one of India’s standout performers, scoring a century against Pakistan in Dubai and an 84-run knock against Australia in the semi-final.
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