Virat Kohli Threatens To Go Against BCCI Diktat On Team India Issue

Virat Kohli's emphasis on the value of having families accompany players on tours has reignited controversy around the BCCI's recent stern decision on players.

Kohli is adamant that having family members nearby helps give athletes the emotional support they need, particularly when things become rough on the field.

After a long day on the field, the Indian batting legend has highlighted how coming home to the family brings a sense of balance that no other support system can match. Many people are unaware of the tremendous benefits this offers players, who can detach their personal lives from the demands of professional cricket, he said.

While discussing how the presence of loved ones actually creates a stable and positive mindset, Virat Kohli vehemently rejected the idea that separating families from the players is a solution for improved focus.

Virat Kohli against BCCI’s new policy on family with cricketers on tours

Family time, in his opinion, is an essential component of a cricket player's wellbeing rather than a diversion since it keeps them psychologically fit and allows them to play with clarity.

“It's very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something that is intense, which happens on the outside. 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,” Virat Kohli said during the RCB Innovational Lab Indian Sports Summit.

I don’t want to sulk in my room alone: Virat Kohli

His remarks directly attacked the new BCCI policy that restricts family stays during the trips. The BCCI mandated that families could only accompany the players on lengthy tours after the first two weeks, and they could stay for up to two weeks if the series or competition lasted longer than 45 days, following India's recent 3-1 Test series loss in Australia. The duration is seven days for shorter international tours.

Family time, according to the former Indian captain, cannot be negotiated.

“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. For me, that is absolutely a day of immense pleasure. And I won't miss any opportunities to go out and spend time with my family whenever I can,” Kohli added.

Also read: Rohit Sharma’s Fitness Exposed By Varun Chakravarthy