Suresh Raina Questions BCCI's Family Restrictions During Tours, Emphasizes Mental Health

What is the BCCI rule on family?

After the series defeat vs. Australia, the BCCI introduced a rule that restricts family time on away tours. Prior to this, there was no restriction on family tours.

• The BCCI’s new rules and regulations stated that players are only allowed to accompany their family for 14 days on a tour that is over 45 days long.

• Meanwhile, players can accompany their family on shorter away tours for a maximum of 7 days.

• The purpose of this rule was to keep the players' attention on cricket.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir supported the decision, as it was decided to focus on improving Indian players' performance. However, the decision received criticism from the Indian star Indian batter, like former captain Virat Kohli. His wife, Anushka Sharma, is a regular feature when Kohli goes on away tours for Team India.

Suresh Raina slams BCCI for restricting families during away tours.

Recently, former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina also criticised the BCCI’s decision during a podcast show on YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s channel.

Raina stated that he is against the BCCI’s decision and that families should be allowed on tours, as they are not against the players and want them to score runs themselves.

“It is very important to have family on tours. The BCCI has taken a big decision that families are not allowed—I'm against this. You are sending them on a tour for two months… family should be allowed. It's not that they (family) are against the players; they (also) would want us to score runs and the country to win,” Raina stated.

Raina also talked about how the players can face mental health issues, not having someone to talk to during their lean patch during the tour.

“You do have mental health issues. When you are going through a lean phase and there's an army gunning for your spot, then such issues crop up. You fear being dropped. When chips are down, you need someone to talk to. When you're happy, you seldom need anyone. But when you're down, you fear talking, thinking this may end up reaching the coach or the captain, he continued.

He also gave an example of Virat Kohli, stating how proud a moment it will be if Virat Kohli’s daughter is clapping for his father when he is playing on the field, and added that it will give extra motivation.

“Imagine Virat Kohli playing, his daughter clapping—it's such a proud moment. He will set the stage on fire,” he concluded.