After India’s disappointing loss to Australia in the five-match Test series, which resulted in the team relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been proactive in implementing changes. Following the series defeat, the BCCI held a review meeting on December 11, attended by Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee Ajit Agarkar, Captain Rohit Sharma, and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.
In response to the series loss, the BCCI is set to introduce new guidelines aimed at improving discipline and performance. One significant change is a restriction on the duration of family stays during tours. According to the new rules, cricketers’ wives will be allowed to stay for only two weeks during a 45-day tour.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma Joins Mumbai Practice Sessions Ahead Of Ranji Trophy Clash
Additionally, players will no longer be allowed to travel separately from the team; all players must travel by the team bus to maintain unity and focus. India had a strong start in the series against Australia, winning the first Test in Perth by a commanding 295-run margin.
🚨 NEW GUIDELINES FROM BCCI. 🚨
– Cricketers’ wives will not be able to stay for the entire tour.
– A cricketer’s family can stay for a maximum of 2 weeks during a 45 day tour.
– Every player needs to travel by team bus, separate travelling not allowed. (Abhishek Tripathi). pic.twitter.com/ysCyHRguCO— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 14, 2025
However, they faltered in the subsequent matches, losing three out of the next four Tests, which dashed their hopes of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Despite being in a promising position, India’s back-to-back series defeats against New Zealand and Australia saw their dreams crushed.
WATCH – Nitish Kumar Reddy Climbs Tirupati Temple On Knees After Stellar Australia Tour
The form of senior players, particularly Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been under scrutiny. Rohit managed just 31 runs across three Tests, while Kohli scored 190 runs in five matches. However, the performances of rising stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 391 runs in 10 innings, and Jasprit Bumrah, who took 32 wickets in five matches, were among the few bright spots for India.
The Men in Blue will return to the Test arena in June when they take on England, and with the new guidelines in place, the team aims to bounce back stronger.
