Following Team India’s disappointing Test series loss to Australia, which cost them the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI has implemented strict new protocols to instill more discipline among players. Losing a Test series in Australia after a decade led to major changes, including questioning the performances of star players, leaked dressing room conversations, and Gautam Gambhir’s rough tenure as coach. The aftermath also saw veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retire from Test cricket.
In response to the turmoil, the BCCI introduced a 10-point guideline for players, which includes two key mandates—mandatory participation in domestic cricket and restrictions on family travel. However, one lesser-known but significant rule involves a strict limit on the amount of luggage a player can carry while traveling for international tours.
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the new protocol restricts players from carrying more than 150 kg of luggage. This decision reportedly stems from an incident where a star batter took an astonishing 250 kg of luggage, including 27 bags, during India’s recent Australia tour. The excessive baggage included 17 bats for personal use, as well as items belonging to his family and personal staff. Since the BCCI had to cover the cost of transporting all the luggage across different Australian cities, the board decided to introduce stricter regulations to prevent such instances in the future.
Under the new rule, any player exceeding the 150 kg luggage limit will have to bear the extra expenses personally. The policy will officially come into effect from the Champions Trophy. Players have already been informed that their families will not accompany them to Dubai, as the tournament will last only 25 days. However, for longer tours like India’s upcoming series in England, families will be allowed to join the players for up to two weeks, as per the updated guidelines.
This means that spouses of Indian cricketers, such as Anushka Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh—who are often seen supporting their husbands, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, during matches—will be able to travel with the team when permitted under the new rules. The BCCI’s move aims to ensure better discipline and focus among players while managing logistical costs more effectively.
