(Image source from: Instagram.com/gautamgambhir55)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to foster "discipline, unity, and a constructive team atmosphere" as it implements a new ten-point mandate starting with the ICC Champions Trophy. Following reports of a "fractured" team dynamic from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the board opted for numerous changes, many of which were influenced by the head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Nonetheless, even Gambhir has been affected by these new policies. Under the BCCI's latest guidelines, personal assistants or managers of the support staff are prohibited from traveling on the team bus with senior players or staying in the same hotel as the players and support personnel. Gambhir's personal assistant, who was constantly with the India coach during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, encountered criticism from the BCCI after the tour. The board is determined to prevent such issues from occurring during the Champions Trophy in Dubai. Reports indicate that the personal assistant is now residing at a different hotel from the team's accommodation.
"One assistant to a coach, who previously regularly stayed at the team hotel, now resides elsewhere even though he was present at all venues during the England series," a report from PTI stated. Gambhir was the only coach on the Australian tour to have a personal assistant. With the new rules in place, he can no longer maintain this arrangement. "Why was his assistant found in the vehicle designated for national selectors? They shouldn’t even be able to have private discussions with a random third party in the car. Why did he have access to the BCCI's hospitality box in Adelaide?" a frustrated BCCI official expressed to the news agency following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In recent months, information leaks from the Indian dressing room have become increasingly frequent. Even during the Australian tour, there were some "leaks" that surfaced publicly. The board appears eager to minimize such "leaks" by restricting unauthorized access.
"How was he able to have breakfast in a designated area of a five-star hotel exclusively for team members?" the BCCI official questioned. As a result of this BCCI directive, players will not be permitted to have family members, spouses, or partners accompany them during the Champions Trophy. In cases where an exception is granted, the player will need to cover the expenses for their family’s travel. These regulations were seemingly not enforced in the past. The board has also implemented limitations on personal chefs, hairstylists, and player agents.
