Mic slip catches Rohit off guard on kin travel rule

Indian team captain Rohit Sharma unintentionally let the cat out of the bag and revealed the “concern” among players about the new BCCI team guidelines on family travel, formulated after the 3-1 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Shubman Gill elevated as vice-captain

Punjab-origin Shubman Gill has been elevated as vice-captain for the Champions Trophy. Mohammad Siraj has made way for left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Karun Nair, who hit 752 in 7 matches

in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, couldn’t find a place in the team.

Ahead of the customary Champions Trophy team announcement presser, the skipper, forgetting the mic was on, was heard saying on camera he had “plans to sit with new BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia to discuss the unease among players about a few clauses, including the one restricting family members from travelling with the team”.

“Ab mere ko iske baad baithna padega ek-dedh ghante secretary ke saath, family ka discuss karne ke liye, sab mere ko bol rahe hain (will have to meet the secretary to discuss the issue of taking families along… all players are asking me to take it up),” Rohit was heard telling chief selector Ajit Agarkar on the stage.

Asked about the rules during the press conference, Rohit deflected, saying his team had not yet heard directly about the new guidelines from the BCCI. “Who told you about these rules? Has it come from the official handle of the BCCI? Let it come officially,” he retorted.

The 10-point BCCI guidelines include measures like making domestic matches mandatory for selection; players travelling with the team, and no separate arrangements with their families; and restricting personal managers on tours. Agarkar had earlier hinted the guidelines had, indeed, been put in place. “If we start, we will probably keep talking about it endlessly.... I suppose every team has some rules and a lot of these were always there. You keep on refining them…. We have spoken about various things over the last few months where you can improve as a team. It’s not a school. It’s not a punishment,” he said. “It’s just that you have some rules in place and when you are playing for the national team, you just follow those rules. Again, all are mature individuals… superstars.”