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'I'm against this...': Suresh Raina blames BCCI for Virat Kohli's early retirement from Test cricket
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has spoken out against the BCCI's decision to restrict players' families from joining them during overseas tours. Raina suggested that this move might have played a role in Virat Kohli's early retirement from Test cricket. Kohli retired from red-ball cricket in May, weeks before the start of the Test series between India and England.
After India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 against Australia earlier this year, the BCCI released a 10-point guideline for players, which included limiting family time during foreign tours. The rule didn't go down well with everyone, including Virat Kohli, who had already expressed disappointment about it.
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'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. 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,' Kohli had said in March.
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Raina slams BCCI for family restrictions
Speaking to YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, Raina said that having family around is important for a player's mental health, especially during tough tours.
'You do have mental health issues. When you are going through a lean phase and there's an army gunning for your spot, then such issues crop up. You fear being dropped. When chips are down you need someone to talk to. When you're happy, you seldom need anyone. But when you're down, you fear talking thinking this may end up reaching the coach or the captain,' he said. 'So out of hesitation, players don't speak out,' Raina said.
'It is very important to have family on tours. BCCI has taken a big decision that family is not allowed - I'm against this. You are sending them to a tour for two months…family should be allowed. It's not that they (family) are against the players, they (also) would want us to score runs and the country to win. (Imagine) Virat Kohli playing, his daughter clapping - it's such a proud moment. He will set the stage on fire,' he added.
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