Rohit Sharma Raises Concerns About BCCI Directives

Later, at the conclusion of the news conference, Rohit was overheard on the microphone discussing with chief selector Ajit Agarkar about the need to address the family clause with the new BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, as he mentioned that several players were approaching him with inquiries about it.

Restriction on family presence, limited to 14 days during an overseas tour spanning over 45 days, is one of the more contentious directives prepared by BCCI in the aftermath of the 1-3 Test series loss in Australia. This rule had been in place before, but since Covid it had been relaxed, and families were allowed to be with the players for the entire duration of the tour.

The feeling within the board establishment is that the constant presence of families was taking away the scope for team bonding activities outside practice hours. With reports of certain players preferring to travel with their partners on separate flights between venues and regularly opting out of optional practice sessions, BCCI decided to crack the whip on these issues too.

“I suppose every team has some rules in place. We’ve spoken about various things over the last few months where you can improve as a team, where you can get a bit closer as a team,” Agarkar said, confirming that the SOPs had been laid out.

“It’s not a school. It’s not a punishment. You have some rules in place and when you’re playing for the national team you just follow those rules. Again, these are mature individuals, superstars in their own right in international sport. But at the end of the day, you’re eventually representing your country. There are certain things that you just inherently follow as every team does.

“I think a lot of them have been in place. Maybe we’ve spoken about it now and it’s been put out. You keep on refining it as you go along. Eventually what suits the team, you want to try and do.”

Domestic participation

The chief selector refused to call it a diktat but made it clear that Indian players, as and when possible, will have to play domestic cricket going forward. It’s another of the BCCI directives to the players.

“As selectors we expect people, when they’re available, to play because that can only strengthen our domestic structure. Not just for their form or their fitness and playing cricket, but it can only strengthen our domestic structure.”

Agarkar also made it clear that between the conclusion of the Sydney Test (Jan 5) and the next round of Ranji Trophy matches starting on January 23, there was enough time for players to rest and get back into whites.

Rohit to play Ranji

Rohit confirmed that he will play the upcoming Ranji match for Mumbai against Jammu & Kashmir at home. With that, Mumbai’s will be a star-studded playing eleven. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer and captain Ajinkya Rahane are all set to play.

Rohit adds to the growing list of India players who are set to play Ranji. Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Shubman Gill (Punjab) and Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra) are expected to play. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are nursing niggles – stiff neck and elbow – and will miss from action.

‘Gambhir trusts the captain on field’

Rohit tried to quell reports that he and head coach Gautam Gambhir were not on the same page on many cricketing matters. “Both of us are very clear in what we want to do. I’m not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind every game tactically, but it’s very clear in my mind and Gautam Gambhir is somebody, once we enter the field, he trusts what the captain is doing on the field,” he said.

“The basic talks that happen are only off the field, in the ground or maybe in the changing room. But once we take the field it’s all about what I do on the field. That’s the kind of trust we have in each other and that’s how it should be.”

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