Following India’s dismal performance during their Australian tour, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released new rules for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which include a 10-point code of conduct meant to instill more discipline and structure in the team. Unless specifically authorized by the BCCI, one of the main regulations forbids players from bringing personal staff, including cooks, security guards, and helpers.
However, shortly before the team bus arrived, Virat Kohli was observed conversing with the local manager of the squad following a demanding three-hour training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai. The manager came back shortly after with a paper bag full of meals from a well-known restaurant in Dubai. Later, Kohli was spotted consuming the food, even putting some away for later. The event garnered attention since it appeared to violate the BCCI’s “no personal chef” policy, which was established to streamline team operations and reduce outside influences while on tour.
Was Virat in violation of the rule?
Although there is room for misunderstanding, it appears that Kohli did not violate the new guideline in the typical manner. Like many other athletes who wish to preserve their public persona, Kohli opted to dine from a street vendor rather than bring his personal chef along. The team management most likely planned this dinner to make sure he was getting the proper nutrients. It’s obvious that Kohli places a lot of importance on his nutrition given his reputation for being extremely focused on his health and fitness, and the squad most likely takes that into consideration while adhering to the regulations.
Following the team’s poor performance during the 2024–25 Australia tour, the BCCI issued a directive that also forbids players from hiring their own cooks. The edict was a part of broader efforts to limit any outside intervention and enforce uniformity and discipline in the team’s activities. The rules are designed to ensure efficiency and unity within the team, given the highly structured nature of international cricket tours, when teams frequently depend on local bases for logistics, food, and lodging.
India is preparing for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Following the team’s training session, Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma were among the first to put themselves through their paces in the nets. In order to improve his technique, Kohli faced fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh, who tested him with several deliveries aimed at his stumps. The former captain of India played the flip shots and on-drives with ease, employing a methodical and precise approach. His performance in the nets demonstrated how committed he was to giving it his all in the next competition.
Younger players like Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, showed off their aggressive approach by intimidating the bowlers with powerful blows. The support staff was alarmed by the intensity of the session, particularly from Hardik and Shreyas. One of them even yelled a caution to the media and security personnel near the boundary ropes: “Watch the ball, watch it!”
At the Dubai International Stadium, India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign begins Thursday against Bangladesh. It will thereafter play its eagerly awaited match versus bitter rivals Pakistan. With a mix of seasoned players and young potential, the Indian squad remains one of the favorites despite the absence of injured star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The Champions Trophy provides the perfect setting for Kohli, Rohit, and the rest of the squad to bounce back from their recent setbacks.
