Former Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri has supported head coach Gautam Gambhir’s controversial new policy prohibiting players’ families and personal staff from joining them for extended periods during domestic and overseas tours, a move prompted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following India’s Test series defeats to New Zealand (2-0 at home) and Australia (3-1 away) in 2025. Speaking on the Grade Cricketer podcast ahead of the India-Australia ODI series opener in Perth on October 19, Shastri endorsed the rule, stating, “When there are too many people around, you tend to get distracted.” The policy, aimed at fostering “focused intensity”, has divided opinions, with proponents arguing it sharpens performance and critics labelling it regressive, unfairly implicating families for on-field failures.

Shastri, who guided India to historic Test triumphs, including back-to-back series wins in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21), noted that Gambhir’s decision likely stemmed from observing excessive distractions in the current squad. “He must have seen it’s getting out of hand. So he just put a limit on what can be done and what cannot be done,” Shastri said, acknowledging that the team environment under Gambhir, appointed in July 2025, differs from his own tenure.

The rule, enforced after a torrid Test run—India’s first home series loss in 12 years and a third straight defeat Down Under—reflects Gambhir’s intent to instil discipline in a transitional squad blending veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma with younger talents, as India eyes the 2027 World Cup.

In a nod to leadership, Shastri lauded new ODI captain Shubman Gill, who debuted under him in 2019, as the ideal figure to navigate this stricter team culture. “The good thing for him is that he has got a captain now who is stable, composed, and calm. Gill is the man for the next decade for India,” Shastri asserted, highlighting Gill’s poise as he leads his first full-time series in Perth.

Gill, with 2,271 ODI runs at 58.23 (per ESPNcricinfo), faces the challenge of marshalling stalwarts like Kohli and Sharma while establishing authority. The policy’s timing aligns with India’s packed schedule—three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia—where focus is paramount to reverse recent setbacks and prepare for future global campaigns.

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The travel ban has sparked lively debate on platforms like X, with fans split: some praise its focus-driven intent, citing distractions during the Test losses, while others argue it risks player morale by isolating support systems. With 50,000 fans expected in Perth, fuelled by Kohli’s crowd-pulling aura, the series tests Gambhir’s vision and Gill’s leadership. Shastri’s backing underscores confidence in a disciplined reset, but the policy’s success hinges on on-field results.

As India navigates this new era, the balance between professionalism and personal support remains a tightrope, with Gill’s composure and Gambhir’s reforms under scrutiny in a high-stakes Australian summer.

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