Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that the BCCI’s reported decision not to allow players’ families in the long overseas tours is not wrong. He added that such a rule was prevalent earlier as well when some of the veteran players, who were married, were part of the team as well. Notably, the BCCI has reportedly issued a few guidelines after India’s 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 as well. Reports also suggest that families won’t be allowed to accompany players overseas
tours as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Internet is going crazy as to why families and partners are not being allowed to travel as it’s not their fault. It’s not their fault. Teams never lose because of them. In fact, players are happier when they go and meet their family. However, there are two aspects to it. If it’s a tour of more than 45 days, at the start you get the team together, and the families can come for two weeks in the middle when you feel homesick, and then you get back to business. It’s not that bad. There was a reason why it used to happen like that earlier. It’s not that people weren’t married earlier.”
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Aakash Chopra also recalled the 2003-04 Australia tour when the entire team spent quality time with some of the players’ families as well. He also noted that reports suggest the Indian players weren’t willing to celebrate the recent Perth Test win together as they wanted to celebrate separately.
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“Sachin paaji (Tendulkar), Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil bhai (Kumble), when all these married people used to travel with us, the wives were allowed for some time, that was also something nice as your lifestyle was like that. I remember us celebrating New Year in Sydney and the entire team was on the boat. I think Rahul Dravid’s wife was there. We were playing games and you develop a bond,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “It’s wrong if that bond is ending. So it’s being said that there will be a limited time for which you can keep your family with you so that you don’t feel homesick, but apart from that, do remember one thing, don’t remain in your rooms. Talk to the team and develop a bonding.”
