Virat Kohli expresses disappointment over BCCI's family time restrictions

Virat Kohli has expressed his disappointment over the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s new policy restricting family stays during international tours, emphasizing the importance of spending time with loved ones for emotional well-being.

Speaking at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Kohli explained how crucial it is for players to reconnect with their families after the stress of high-pressure matches. He noted that time with family provides a grounding effect that helps maintain emotional balance during long tours.

Under the new guidelines, families can only stay with players for a maximum of two weeks during tours lasting 45 days or longer. This policy meant that no players had the privilege of having their families with them during the recent ICC Champions Trophy unless they arranged it privately or obtained prior approval from the board.

“I feel quite disappointed about that,” Kohli said. 

“People who have no control over what is going on are kind of brought into conversations and put out in the forefront. Maybe they need to be kept away,” he added. 

These new restrictions are part of a broader set of 10-point guidelines introduced by the BCCI after India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Other rules include mandatory participation in domestic cricket and stricter travel policies for players’ wives.

Kohli also addressed his reduced activity on social media, explaining that he no longer feels the need to share personal milestones online. 

“Posting about us winning the Champions Trophy is not going to increase the happiness in my heart,” he said. 

“People saying ‘oh, you’re amazing’ in the comments doesn’t matter,” he added. 

The former Indian captain acknowledged that technology can be a distraction and mentioned that he has consciously cut back on his social media presence to focus on his game and personal life.