Gambhir Backs BCCI's Family Rule After Kohli's Comments

India coach Gautam Gambhir stood by BCCI's new family rule, saying that the players' sole purpose is to make the nation proud. The BCCI rolled out a new set of guidelines for the players after the disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, which saw India get beaten 1-3.

Following this, BCCI set out the new rule which limits the time spent by families with the players. Under the revised rules, families can accompany players for only 14 days during tournaments lasting 45 days or longer. For shorter tours, family stays are restricted to a maximum of seven days.

Virat Kohli was someone who was very vocal about the rule

and admitted he wasn't a fan of it. Kohli said that he doesn't want to head back to his room and sit and sulk without his family around.

Speaking to Cheteshwar Pujara in a special interview, Gambhir said that players should know they're not on a holiday and are here to represent the nation. While the India coach admitted that he doesn't mind having families around, the main focus has to be on cricket and said the players should be committed to the goal.

Families are important, but you've got to understand one thing. You are here for a purpose. It's not a holiday. You're here for a huge purpose. You've got very few people in that dressing room or in this tour that gets this opportunity to make the country proud. So yes, I'm not against not having families with us."