Virat Kohli Takes Blunt Swipe at BCCI's Family Rule: 'People Who Have No Control Over...'

After India's disappointing loss at home against New Zealand in a Test series, and a lackluster performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia, the BCCI has implemented a new travel policy for players. According to the rule, players who are absent from India for more than 45 days during overseas tours will be allowed to have their partners and children (under 18) visit them for one two-week period per series.

Speaking during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, Kohli admitted to being disappointed at the rule being implemented and families being blamed for players' poor performances.

"It's very difficult to explain to people how grounding it is to just come back to your family every time you have something which is intense, which happens on the outside," he said. "I don't think people have an understanding of what value it brings to a large extent. And I feel quite disappointed about that because it's like people who have no control over what's going on are kind of brought into conversations and put out at the forefront that, 'oh, maybe they need to be kept away'."

'Don't want to sit alone and sulk'

The former India captain further explained that the presence of family helps players take responsibility for improving their performance.

"If you ask any player, do you want your family to be around you all the time? You'll be like, yes. I don't want to go to my room and just sit alone and sulk. I want to be able to be normal. And then you can really treat your game as something that is a responsibility. You finish that responsibility, and you come back to life," Kohli added.

During India's Champions Trophy campaign, Kohli was spotted with wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in Dubai. She was in the stands during India's last three matches. India captain Rohit Sharma's wife, Ritika Sajdeh and daughter Samaira, was also present, during India's victorious campaign.

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