R Ashwin defends Rahul Dravid for taking a break, differs with former coach Ravi Shastri

New Delhi: Former head coach of Team India, Ravi Shastri has recently slammed current boss Rahul Dravid for taking breaks as he expects the coach should be hands-on, no matter who is he. But India spinner Ravi Ashwin has defended his coach and has responded to the criticism why the break was necessary.

“I do not believe in breaks,” Shastri said during a virtual press conference. “Because I want to understand my team, I want to understand my players and I want to be in control of that team. These breaks… why do you need that many breaks for, to be honest? You get your 2-3 months of the IPL, that’s enough for you to rest as a coach. But other times, I think a coach should be hands-on, whoever he is”, Ravi Shastri told about Rahul Dravid.

“I will explain why Laxman has gone there with a completely different team because even that could be interpreted differently. Rahul Dravid and his team put in extensive hard work ahead of the T20 World Cup, right from planning, since I saw this from close quarters, I’m saying this. They had specific in-depth plans for each venue and each opposition. So they would have been under not only mental but also physical burnout and everyone needed a break. As soon as the New Zealand series ends, we have the Bangladesh tour. That’s why we have a different coaching staff led by Laxman for this tour,” Ashwin responded to the criticism on his YouTube channel.

India are currently touring in New Zealand. The first T20I, which was scheduled to take place at Wellington Regional Stadium was abandoned due to heavy rain without a single delivery being bowled.