"Too Many People Around Gets Distracting": Shastri on BCCI's New Rules

Mumbai: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on the BCCI's strict 10-point guidelines that were introduced during Gautam Gambhir's time as head coach. His take? He understands why they were needed, but things were quite different during his own tenure.

The guidelines, which came after India's tough losses to New Zealand and Australia in late 2024, put limits on everything from personal staff to family time on tours. And Shastri's comments give us a peek into how much times have changed.

"The Chef Would've Been Busy With Me!"

When asked if similar rules existed during his time as coach, Shastri was pretty straightforward. "Not really," he said in an interview with The Grade Cricketer podcast.

Then came the classic Shastri humor. "I don't remember anyone coming with a chef during my time. The chef would've been very busy with me! I wouldn't have minded one or two!" he joked, showing he hasn't lost his famous wit.

But jokes aside, Shastri made a serious point about why such restrictions might be necessary now. "After a while, on tours, you've got to minimize things. When there are too many people around, you tend to get distracted," he explained.

What Are These 10 Rules Anyway?

The BCCI introduced these guidelines in January 2025 after India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in Australia and got whitewashed 0-3 at home by New Zealand. The rules were pretty strict and covered almost every aspect of a player's life on tour.

Some key points included:

• No personal staff like chefs, hairdressers, or stylists on tours

• Limited family time—only two weeks allowed during tours longer than 45 days

• Mandatory participation in domestic cricket for selection

• No separate travel arrangements—players must travel together

• No personal commercial shoots during ongoing series

The message was clear: team unity and discipline come first. And it seems Gambhir wanted to end what many called the "star culture" in Indian cricket.

Why Gambhir Had to Do It

Shastri showed a lot of understanding for why Gambhir felt the need to bring in these rules. "He must've seen it is getting out of hand and put a limit to what can be done and what cannot be done," Shastri said.

The former coach also expressed sympathy for Gambhir's rocky start in Test cricket. "That's bound to happen. It takes time to understand your players, to know what combination you should play," he explained.

Losing at home to New Zealand and then in Australia would test any new coach, and Shastri recognized that Gambhir needed time to settle in and figure things out.

The Rules Seem to Be Working

Since the diktat was put in place, India's fortunes have changed dramatically. The team has been on a winning streak across formats in 2025:

• Won the Champions Trophy

• Won the Asia Cup

• Beat West Indies in a home Test series

• Drew 2-2 with England in a tough away Test series

Shastri pointed out these recent successes. "The fact that they came back in England to win the last Test, and then won the Asia Cup, those will help things settle down," he said. He also noted that winning against West Indies and getting two Test wins in England puts India back as favorites to reach the World Test Championship final.

A Different Era, Different Challenges

What's clear from Shastri's comments is that the game has changed. During his time as coach from 2017 to 2021, the team environment was different. Players didn't have the same level of personal entourage, and the "star culture" perhaps wasn't as pronounced.

But with the rise of social media, bigger commercial deals, and players becoming global brands, the dynamics have shifted. Gambhir inherited a team that needed some course correction, and the 10-point diktat was his way of bringing everyone back on the same page.

Whether these rules stay for the long term or get relaxed over time remains to be seen. But for now, the results speak for themselves—India is winning again, and the team appears more united than before.