Ravichandran Ashwin explains why India have a different coaching staff led by Laxman for New Zealand tour
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri recently criticised current head coach Rahul Dravid for taking a break during the ongoing New Zealand tour. The NCA coaching staff of VVS Laxman, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Sairaj Bahutule are filling in for Dravid, Vikram Rathour and Paras Mhambrey as the team’s head coach. Reacting to Shastri’s statement, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has jumped to the defence of Dravid and explained why did the support staff need a break after the 20-20 World Cup.
Dravid will return to the team when India leaves for Bangladesh for ODI and Test series, along with Rathour and Mhambrey starting December 4. Ashwin stated that the coaching staff had made a roadmap for the Indian team for the 20-20 World Cup on how to play different oppositions at different venues which must’ve led to mental and physical burnout.
“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 20-20 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,” said Ashwin on his Youtube Channel.
“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 added.
I do not believe in breaks: Ravi Shastri
When asked about the break of the coaching staff during a virtual press conference, Shastri had said that he doesn’t believe in breaks as he likes to be in control of that team.
“I do not believe in breaks. 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 Indian T20 League, that’s enough for you to rest as a coach. But other times, I think a coach should be hands-on, whoever he is,” Shastri said during a virtual press conference.
After the first New Zealand vs India T20I got washed out, the two teams will lock horns in the second T20I on Sunday at Mount Maunganui. After the three-match T20I series, both teams will play a three-match ODI series. Hardik Pandya will be leading the team in T20Is while Shikhar Dhawan will lead the team in ODIs.
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