Former India head coach Ravi Shastri had questioned the need for a break by Rahul Dravid and other support staff members from international matches. Dravid and other members are on leave from the ongoing New Zealand tour after the ICC T20 World Cup.
VVS Laxman, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Sairaj Bahutule are filling in for Dravid, Vikram Rathour and Paras Mhambrey. Dravid and his staff members will return for the Bangladesh tour starting December 4.
“I don’t believe in breaks because I want to be with my team. The coach and other members of the support staff gets two-month break during the Indian Premier League so what’s the need of missing games between. A coach has to be with his players to watch them closely,” said Shastri.
Ravichandran Ashwin has now come to Dravid’s defence, explaining why Dravid and others need a break from regular cricket.
“I know my words would be taken differently but I have ssen the amount of hard work Dravid and others put before the ICC T20 World Cup.They had plans for each rival team and venue. They would have been under mental and physical burnout and everyone needed a break. After the New Zealand tour ends, we have Bangladesh games. Thta’s why we have a different coaching staff led by Laxman on the ongoing tour,” said Ashwin.
Hardik Pandya is currently leading the Indian side in the shortest format. The first match in Wellington was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain.