The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and head coach Gautam Gambhir introduced a set of strict new rules for the India national cricket team after the team’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, and those rules shocked the entire cricket world.
The new guidelines cover everything from limits on how long players’ family members can stay with them on tour, restrictions on personal staff and a focus on mandatory domestic cricket participation. The decision came as a direct response to growing concerns about discipline, focus and commitment within the team following the disappointing Test series loss to Australia.
Ravi Shastri defends Gautam Gambhir’s tough stance, recalls his own no-nonsense coaching days
Although some Indian players were reportedly unhappy with the new restrictions, the BCCI made it clear that these steps were necessary for the long-term progress of Indian cricket. Gautam Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense attitude, stressed that the team should travel, train and work as a cohesive group, keeping the collective goal above individual priorities.
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Now, ahead of the white-ball series in Australia, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has shared his views on the matter. Shastri has said that such issues never arose during his coaching tenure, because the environment was more orderly.
The former World Cup winner hinted that Gautam Gambhir might have noticed the growing imbalance within the camp, forcing him to bring in stronger rules to restore order within the team.
You don’t need to go to room service all the time: Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri said on The Grade Cricketer, “I don’t remember anyone coming with a chef in my time because that chef was very busy with me. I didn’t mind one or two, because then the dishes could be separated with at least a glass of red.”
The renowned broadcaster further added, “You don’t need to go to room service all the time. After some time, on tour, you want to tone things down. When there are a lot of people around, you get distracted. He (Gautam Gambhir) must have seen that it was getting out of hand. So, he just put a limit on what can and cannot be done.”
The former Indian head coach praised the calm-tempered Shubman Gill, who has now been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team in ODI and Test cricket. “The good thing for him (Gambhir) is that he has now got a captain who is steady, composed and calm. Gill is the right man for the next decade for India,” Shastri said.
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Gautam Gambhir faces a big challenge as Ravi Shastri highlights the urgent need for new fast bowlers
However, Shastri stressed that one of Gautam Gambhir’s biggest challenges now will be to maintain India’s fast bowling depth. With Mohammed Shami close to retirement and Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully managed, the focus has been on grooming at least three new fast bowlers to ensure that India’s attack remains sharp across all formats.
Shastri signed off by saying, “Gambhir will be looking for a good bench of fast bowlers. With Shami retiring and Bumrah managing workload, you need the other three to be ready quickly.”
Shastri, in particular, is enjoying life in the commentary box. His booming voice and energetic tone have become iconic throughout the cricket world, and now he is ready for another memorable moment, being part of the commentary panel for the white-ball series between India and Australia.
