Mumbai: The recent 10 directives from the BCCI aimed at Indian players on international duty seem to have stirred up some tension within the team. Captain Rohit Sharma was visibly annoyed when asked about it during a press conference on Saturday after the Champions Trophy squad announcement. He shot back, “Who told you about this? Did it come from the official BCCI account?”

Later, as the conference wrapped up, Rohit was overheard on the mic telling chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who was sitting next to him, that he needed to discuss the family clause with new BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia since “everyone” (the players) was inquiring about it.

One of the more controversial rules is the restriction on family presence, limited to 14 days during a 45-day overseas tour. This directive came after the team’s 1-3 Test series defeat in Australia. While this rule existed before, it was relaxed during Covid, allowing families to accompany players for the entire tour.

The board feels that having families around all the time is hindering team bonding outside of practice. With reports of some players choosing to fly separately with their partners and skipping optional practice sessions, the BCCI decided it was time to address these concerns.

Every team has its own set of rules, right? We’ve chatted about a bunch of areas where the team can step up and bond a bit more, Agarkar mentioned, confirming that the standard operating procedures are established.

“This isn’t a school setting or a punishment. There are rules to follow when you’re part of the national team. These are all experienced players, stars in their own fields. But at the end of the day, you’re representing your country, and there are certain expectations that come with that, just like any team.

“I think many of these rules have been around for a while. We might have just brought them up recently and made them clear. It’s all about fine-tuning things as you move forward. Ultimately, you want to find what works best for the team.”

Involvement from within the country

The chief selector didn’t want to call it a strict order, but he definitely emphasized that Indian players will need to participate in domestic cricket whenever they can. This is just another guideline from the BCCI for the players.

“As selectors, we expect players to participate when they’re available because it helps boost our domestic structure. It’s not just about keeping their form or fitness; it’s about strengthening the whole domestic scene.”

Agarkar also pointed out that there’s plenty of time for players to rest and get back into their white kits between the end of the Sydney Test on January 5 and the next round of Ranji Trophy matches starting on January 23.

Rohit is set to play in the Ranji Trophy

Rohit has confirmed that he’ll be playing in the upcoming Ranji match for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir at home. This means Mumbai’s lineup is going to be packed with stars. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and captain Ajinkya Rahane are all ready to hit the field.

Rohit joins a growing roster of Indian players participating in the Ranji. Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Shubman Gill (Punjab), and Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra) are also set to play. Unfortunately, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are dealing with some minor injuries – a stiff neck and elbow – so they won’t be playing..

Gambhir has faith in the captain during the game

Rohit addressed the rumors about him and head coach Gautam Gambhir not being aligned on various cricket issues. He stated, “We both know exactly what we want to achieve. I’m not going to dive into the tactical discussions for every game, but I’m confident in my approach, and Gautam trusts my decisions once we’re on the field.”

He added, “Most of our discussions happen off the field, whether it’s on the ground or in the locker room. But when we’re playing, it’s all about my decisions out there. That’s the level of trust we share, and that’s how it should be.”

Read Also: Irfan Pathan Expresses Disappointment Over Sanju Samson's Exclusion from Champions Trophy Squad

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