After Down Under Debacle, BCCI May Limit Wives’ Stay
As India looks to bounce back from consecutive setbacks in the Test series against New Zealand and Australia, the BCCI has identified a lack of team cohesion and the need for a stricter fitness regimen
As India looks to bounce back from consecutive setbacks in the Test series against New Zealand and Australia, the BCCI has identified a lack of team cohesion and the need for a stricter fitness regimen as critical areas for improvement. Sources at TOI reveal that head coach Gautam Gambhir has provided strong feedback on these concerns. Additionally, the board plans to reassess Gambhir’s role following the upcoming Champions Trophy next month.
During a meeting involving the BCCI, head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, it was suggested that restrictions be placed on the amount of time players spend with their wives or partners during extended tours. The discussion also highlighted that some players prefer to travel alone and have requested separate accommodations while on tour.
BCCI Highlights Lack of Team Bonding
Gambhir’s off-field involvement with the team has come under scrutiny, and he may be encouraged to focus more on organizing team bonding activities. “The board is concerned that a team which has maintained remarkable consistency across formats for over half a decade is now struggling to perform cohesively, despite having nearly the same core group of players. The issue seems to stem from the absence of a unifying force within the team. It has been observed that players tend to focus on their individual lives once training or matches are over,” a BCCI official stated.
“Players today often travel with their families and large entourages. Some have even requested separate accommodations in different hotels, while a few have arranged their own travel within the country. This has resulted in limited interaction with the rest of the team. The board is now considering capping the duration of family stays to two weeks during extended tours,” the source revealed.
Highlighting a key observation from the meeting about the need to rebuild team spirit beyond game time, the source remarked, “It was expected that the team would have a customary celebratory dinner together after India’s victory in the first Test in Perth. However, the squad members ended up going out in separate groups instead.”
“Gambhir spent time with his own group during the tour. In fact, there was only one team dinner during the entire two-month tour,” the source noted. “Previous team managements often organized outdoor activities involving the whole team, which played a crucial role in fostering team spirit.”
TOI has learned that Gambhir has also done away with the practice of optional training sessions for similar reasons. He believes the entire team should train together to build synergy among players, as having only a few individuals show up for practice defeats the purpose.
