You know that BCCI policy document that’s been making the rounds? The one that sounds like it was generated by Chat GPT? Yeah, that wasn’t supposed to be public. Thanks to some leaks, we got to see it in all its unpolished glory. And honestly, it’s not just the awkward phrasing that’s concerning; the strict tone is backed by some pretty uncomfortable truths.

Let’s dive into the head-scratching item No.5 – ‘Sending Bags Separately to the Centre of Excellence.’ “Players must coordinate with team management regarding equipment and personal items being sent to the Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru. Any additional costs incurred due to separate arrangements will be the player’s responsibility.” Seriously, what does that even mean? A person actually carries these bags into the NCA for temporary storage, since they’re part of the travel wardrobe for these superstar cricketers. Who wants to deal with packing and unpacking before heading off on a long cricket tour? It’s way easier to just bring your entire casual wardrobe and pick what fits your vibe when you need it. I mean, who wants to wear the same outfit twice? Just leave a couple of your favorite looks at the NCA and have some support staff bring them over before the next series.

And there’s more about the cricketers’ luggage. Point No.3 ‘Excess Baggage Limit’ lays out the rules for traveling kit bags (two per player) and suitcases (three for long tours, two for shorter ones), with weight limits between 120 and 150kg depending on the tour length. Really? Those of us used to 15kg for domestic flights and 25kg for international are wondering when 120kg/150kg became a “limit.” Some stars from the BGT series had personal bags weighing between 12 and 15, with one even hitting 22. What’s in those bags besides clothes and gear? Gold-plated yoga mats? Protein shakes? How many? I’m seriously tempted to write another piece on this.

There’s been a lot of chatter about the ‘Superstar Culture’ that’s led to these unofficial Ten Commandments, but let’s break it down simply. In Indian cricket, the true superstars across all formats are just a handful of players. In alphabetical order, we’re talking about Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma. That’s the elite group. If we expand a bit, we can include Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav in a secondary category. But when it comes to personal bodyguards, entourages, private flights, and all that VIP treatment, it’s really just those first five names that fit the bill. The new Policy Document is mainly aimed at that top tier, sending a clear message to others to steer clear of that lifestyle.

The Conditions might sound ridiculous because they’re trying to fix a bunch of ridiculous situations that have been allowed to slide. The BCCI’s top brass—like the president and secretary—have been pretty hands-off with tour managers and coaches over the years. Remember back in 2017 when Anil Kumble stepped down as coach amid rumors of a rift with Kohli? That was a clear sign of how the BCCI would handle management issues. After a brief stint with Sunil Subramaniam as the team’s first official tour manager, the BCCI has fallen back into old habits. They tend to hire yes-men or those who owe favors, and they often lack the authority they’re supposed to have. That’s part of why the Indian team didn’t celebrate together after the Perth Test win.

In today's cricket scene, the brightest stars have quickly figured out that to get things done, all they need to do is hit speed dial on the most influential BCCI official around. You could say that Indian cricket legends have always played this game. That’s true, but none of those legends ever really distanced themselves from their team. Back then, they might not have had the luxury of charter flights, but they still shared the same hotel and hung out with their teammates. They didn’t skip practice sessions on tour after their warm-ups and nets, unlike what happened during the two-month stint in Australia. Sure, times have changed, and a lot is different now, but as one tour insider put it, “your respect for your teammates should not change.”

The Indian cricket entourage on tour has ballooned to about 35 people, and now there are support staff for the stars who stick close to the squad. They share the same floor, travel alongside the players, and include superstar managers, assistants, chefs, and private security. At the T20 World Cup, one star even had a two-person camera crew following him around for potential documentary footage. Since the BCCI allowed coach Gautam Gambhir’s personal advisor to join them in Australia, it made it tough for him to call out the players. But what about those solo practice sessions? And team dinners?

Superstars drifting away from their teammates has become a common sight. It’s been mostly hidden because of the team's success on the field. With back-to-back Test series wins in Australia, an exciting ICC World Cup 2023 run, and finally clinching the ICC T20 World Cup, it was only a matter of time before things started to slide. There were no shared goals or wise voices from the past to help steady the ship.

However, it’s important to remember that India has lost six out of its last eight Tests for various cricket-related reasons—like selection issues, poor decisions during matches, and batters making questionable shot choices. This fragmented team vibe, fueled by a ‘superstar culture,’ has contributed to the situation. If it had been recognized and addressed earlier, it might have been contained before it spread from one star to many, affecting the higher ranks of the team. In a setup where boundaries are unclear and rules are flexible, when things go south on the field, the foundation will crumble.

Now, the BCCI’s policy document is being dismissed as the “unofficial” version. The Superstars it targets are not happy about it. When the official version finally comes out, it will likely show just how much the Superstars have managed to push back—or not.

Read Also: Stars Align for Ranji Trophy: Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant Make Their Comebacks

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