Domestic Cricket Mandatory, IPL Ban, Restrictions on Personal Staff as BCCI Cracks the Whip on Star Culture in Indian Cricket

By Jasir Basharat Last updated Jan 17, 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made public the new rules and guidelines for the Indian cricket team, after these details were widely shared by various media outlets like Firstpost earlier this week.

These new restrictions are the BCCI’s way of taking action against an Indian team that is often considered the most spoiled in the cricketing world. This move doesn’t shock, especially after their poor performances in recent Test matches.

The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, faced a historic 0-3 defeat against New Zealand at home and also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia after holding it for a decade, with a 1-3 series loss in Australia.

There have been demands to remove Rohit as captain, especially after India lost six of their last seven Test matches under his leadership. Some have also suggested dropping both him and Virat Kohli from the Test team, as the two-star players have been struggling with poor form recently.

Although the BCCI has chosen not to take any strict action against Rohit, Kohli, or head coach Gautam Gambhir for the time being, they have imposed several new rules on the Indian team.

“All players are expected to adhere strictly to the above guidelines. Any exceptions or deviations must be pre-approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee and Head Coach. Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the BCCI,” says a document that is being circulated on social media.

“Additionally,” says the document, “the BCCI reserves the right to take disciplinary action against a player which may include (i) sanction against the concerned player from participating in all BCCI conducted tournaments including the Indian Premier League; and (ii) deduction from retainer amount/match fees under the BCCI Player contract. This measure ensures accountability and reinforces the importance of adhering to established policies and prioritizing Indian cricket.”

One of the new rules set by the BCCI is that players must take part in domestic matches. “This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure,” the policy document mentions.

One of the new rules introduced by the board is to reduce the number of players who travel separately with their families instead of with the team. Well-known players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are often seen traveling alone, usually with their families.

Kohli once had a heated argument with a female reporter at the Melbourne airport during the Australia Test series because she filmed his children without asking for permission.

“All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion. Exceptions, if any, must be pre-approved by the Head Coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee,” the document states.

Policy Document for Team India (Senior Men)

Objective: To establish guidelines that promote discipline, unity, and a positive team environment while ensuring professional standards and operational efficiency during tours and series.

1. Participation in Domestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression. Any exceptions to this mandate will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances and will require formal notification and approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process.

2. Players Traveling Separately with Families All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion. Exceptions, if any, must be preapproved by the Head Coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee.

3. Excess Baggage Limit Players are required to adhere to the specified baggage limits shared with the team. Any excess baggage costs will need to be borne by the individual player. This policy helps streamline logistics and avoid unnecessary expenses.

4. Restriction on Individual Staff on Tour/Series Personal staff (e.g., personal managers, chefs, assistants, and security) are to be restricted on tours or series unless explicitly approved by the BCCI. This ensures that the focus remains on team operations and minimizes logistical challenges. – this has to be done away with.

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.

6. Leaving Practice Sessions Early All players are required to stay for the entire duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venue. This rule ensures commitment and fosters a strong work ethic within the team.

7. Personal Shoots During Series/Tour Players are not permitted to engage in personal shoots or endorsements during an ongoing series or tour. This avoids distractions and ensures that the players’ focus remains on cricket and team responsibilities.

8. Family Travel Policy The family travel policy ensures a balance between players’ personal well-being and team commitments:

Eligibility: Players absent from India for more than 45 days during overseas tours can be joined by their partners and children (under 18) for one visit per series (format-wise) of up to a two-week period.

9. Participation in BCCI’s Official Shoots and Functions: Players are required to be available for BCCI’s official shoots, promotional activities, and functions. These engagements are essential for maintaining the BCCI’s commitments to stakeholders and promoting the game effectively.

10. Players Returning Home if Matches End Early Players are required to stay with the team until the scheduled end of the match series or tour, regardless of whether matches conclude earlier than planned. This ensures unity, fosters team bonding, and avoids disruption to team dynamics.

Jasir Basharat

Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.