Suresh Raina Slams BCCI’s Family Ban on Tours, Cites Virat Kohli’s Example in Emotional Plea

 Former India star cricketer Suresh Raina has spoken out against the recent policy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He had strongly criticized the decision not to take the national team players with their families or loved ones on foreign tours. According to Raina, this decision is against humanity and can have an adverse impact on the mental health of the players. His comments had already sparked a storm of controversy in the cricketing community.

Recently appearing on Ranbir Allahabadi's YouTube show,  Raina said, "Having family on a foreign tour is not a luxury. It is purely a source of mental comfort and stability. Players are under extreme mental stress during long tours. "A player feels much more comfortable with family around them at that time, they can open up and talk about their feelings. Loneliness and anxiety are greatly reduced."

He cited the 2018 South Africa tour, where his wife Priyanka was with him, as an example. “I was able to stay mentally strong because my wife was with me on that tour,” Raina said. "I was named man of the match in the series. His contribution to that was undeniable. A player's performance is closely linked to his mental state. His contribution to this was undeniable. 

Raina also said that players are under a lot of stress during long tours. The fear of losing their place in the team, injuries, failure - all of this is very stressful. During this time, players cannot share their problems without their families, which leads to more stress. He considers such a policy to be dangerous for the interests of the game.

The most sensational part of Raina's conversation was his reference to Virat Kohli. He said, "Imagine, Virat Kohli is batting and his daughter is clapping in the gallery. That is the biggest inspiration for any father and player." "Such a scene can take a player to another level. Family is not just a comfort, it is a kind of strength." He added, "I think such a strict policy could also have played a role in Virat's departure from Test cricket. "Being away from family is very difficult mentally for a player." 

On the other hand National team coach Gautam Gambhir, has a different opinion on this matter. He said, "This kind of tour is not a vacation. It is a purely professional responsibility. Staying focused is the most important thing here. So I support this decision of the board."  Gambhir's comments suggest that the board has taken this decision to maintain the players' performance and professionalism. 

However, Raina's statement raises a new question - is a player just a professional or should he also have some needs and emotional needs as a human being? It has already been proven how important mental health is in modern sports. From Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles to cricketer Glenn McGrath, many have spoken out about the importance of mental health. 

Suresh Raina's statement has added a new dimension to the debate. He claimed that players should be allowed to stay with their families during foreign tours. This will not only have a positive impact on their performance, but will also maintain their mental state. He said, "We just love to watch the game, but many people don't understand the effort that goes into a player." 

Pressure is building on the BCCI over this comment. Many believe that the strength of the players' mind, confidence, and performance - everything depends on their family and mental health. In that sense, Raina's statement is quite relevant and thought-provoking at the present time. 

If the board reconsiders this decision in the future, Raina's public comments may have a significant impact on that process. Because a player is not just about scoring runs - his emotions, mentality and humanity are equally important.