On Saturday, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli addressed the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) recent directive that limits the presence of players' families during tours. The 36-year-old, who played a pivotal role in securing India's third Champions Trophy title last week, voiced his dissatisfaction with the regulation, emphasizing the significance of having family support during international competitions.

Following India's defeat at home to New Zealand in a Test series and a disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the BCCI introduced a stringent travel policy. This policy stipulates that "players who are away from India for more than 45 days on overseas tours may have their partners and children (under 18) join them for one visit per series (based on format) for a duration of up to two weeks."

While participating in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, Kohli expressed his disappointment regarding the implementation of this rule and the tendency to blame families for players' underwhelming performances.

"It is challenging to convey to others how grounding it is to return to your family during intense periods that occur externally," he remarked. "I believe many do not fully grasp the value this brings. I find it quite disheartening that individuals who have no influence over the situation are drawn into discussions and portrayed as needing to be kept at a distance."

'Don't want to sit alone and sulk'

The former captain of India elaborated that having family nearby encourages players to take accountability for enhancing their performance.

"If you ask any player whether they would like their family to be with them constantly, the answer would be affirmative. I prefer not to retreat to my room and dwell in solitude. I wish to maintain a sense of normalcy. This allows one to view their game as a responsibility. Once that responsibility is fulfilled, you can return to your life," Kohli stated.

During India's Champions Trophy journey, Kohli was seen with his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, in Dubai. She was present in the stands for the last three matches of the tournament. Additionally, Rohit Sharma's wife, Ritika Sajdeh, and their daughter, Samaira, were also in attendance during India's successful campaign.

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