Aakash Chopra, a former batter for India, questioned several of the new regulations that the BCCI allegedly implemented after the men’s team lost the Test series in Australia. Aakash Chopra questioned whether any cricket player would require that much luggage given that one of the most recent regulations suggests the BCCI will pay up to 150 kg for a player’s luggage while on tour.
In late 2003, while India was looking for an opening partner for their Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag, Aakash Chopra made his Test debut in Ahmedabad against New Zealand. Aakash Chopra struck two half-centuries against New Zealand in the second Test match played in Mohali in 2003–2004.
Aakash Chopra often teamed up with Virender Sehwag during the 2003–04 tour of Australia, including two century opening partnerships in Sydney and Melbourne. The high scores that India amassed during that series were attributed to Chopra, an opening batsman who outscored the frequently century-scoring middle-order batsmen Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly.
Aakash Chopra Amused By This Change
Media reports suggest the players now can’t travel separately and only in the team bus. Reacting to it, Chopra wrote on X (formerly Twitter)
“All players will have to travel on the team bus’. Finding this one most amusing. Wasn’t that always the norm??? If it isn’t the case anymore…it’s worth finding out who changed that?? And why??”
“The other interesting thing that caught my eye is – BCCI will pay till 150kgs for a player baggage. Over and above to be paid by the player. “Why would anyone need over 150 kgs of luggage on a cricket tour??
No cricket kit-bag can exceed 40 kgs. 15 bats will be under 20 kgs. 110 kgs of clothes?? and seems like even that’s not enough for few!!! And why would you want the board to pay for excess baggage beyond that anyway???”
The Test series defeat Down Under was India’s first against Australia in the longest format in the last ten years.
Gautam Gambhir’s Job Under Scrutiny
Gautam Gambhir’s job is reportedly in jeopardy because of India’s loss of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and rumors of a schism within the team. Gambhir’s performance would be assessed after the 2025 Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19, according to PTI.
Prior to the series loss in Australia, Sri Lanka condemned the Men in Blue to a historic ODI series loss, and they were thrashed 3-0 at home against New Zealand. The subcontinental country, which has advanced to the World Test Championship (WTC) final twice before, will also miss the tournament for the first time.