The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to revise its recently imposed policy on players’ family time during tours after Virat Kohli's comments on the importance of family support. The BCCI had earlier issued a 10-point diktat that limited families from staying with players to just two weeks during a 45-day tour. However, following Kohli’s remarks, the board is reportedly open to making adjustments, allowing players to apply for permission to extend their family time during tours.

Virat Kohli's View on Family Support

Virat Kohli recently emphasized the critical role that family plays in maintaining a player's mental health and well-being, particularly during long tours. Speaking at RCB's Innovation Lab summit in Bengaluru, Kohli explained how difficult it is to articulate the grounding effect that family support brings to a player’s life, especially during intense periods of international cricket.

He said, “The role of family is very difficult to explain to people…how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something which is intense, which happens on the outside. I don’t think people have an understanding of what value it brings.” Kohli further added, “I don’t want to go to my room and just sit alone and sulk. I want to be able to be normal. Then you can really treat your game as something that is a responsibility.”

BCCI's Initial Stance and Potential Change

The BCCI had introduced the family time limit after India’s disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where the team suffered a 3-1 series loss to Australia. Despite starting the tour with a win in Perth, India couldn’t manage to secure a victory, marking Australia’s first Test series win over India since the 2014-15 series.

Following Kohli’s statement, the BCCI is reconsidering its stance. The board is now likely to allow players to apply for extended family time during tours, provided they seek prior approval. This shift shows that the BCCI is willing to prioritize the players’ mental well-being alongside performance, acknowledging the importance of family support on the road.

Team India's Upcoming Tour of England

Team India is set to tour England for a five-match Test series from June 20 to August 4. It remains to be seen whether the BCCI will make allowances for players to have their families with them for a longer period during this tour, as the board reassesses its policy.

IPL 2025 to Kick Off on March 22

As the IPL 2025 season kicks off on March 22, Indian players will return to the field, with Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the season opener at Eden Gardens. The IPL will serve as a much-needed opportunity for players to reconnect with the game and get back into competitive action.

The BCCI’s possible U-turn on its family time policy reflects the board’s recognition of the mental and emotional challenges faced by players on long tours. With Virat Kohli and other players openly discussing the importance of family, it seems that the board is willing to accommodate these needs to ensure that players are in the best mental state to perform.