Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has taken a dig at the current India head coach Rahul Dravid for the latter being rested from the ongoing New Zealand tour.
Along with some senior players, Dravid has also been given a break from the New Zealand tour, which comprises 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs starting November 18, a week after India were knocked out from the semi-final in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
India’s tour of Bangladesh, for which a full-strength squad is announced, will begin on December 4, just 4 days after the New Zealand tour ends. Hence, Dravid and a few other players have been given a rest.
But, Ravi Shastri believes that the break Dravid got during the IPL should have been enough, and said a coach should spend as much time with the players as possible.
“I don’t believe in breaks. I want to understand my team and players, and then be in control of that team. What do you need that many breaks for, to be honest? You get your two-three 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,” Shastri said in a press conference organized by Prime Video ahead of the series opener.
Hardik Pandya is leading in the T20I series in New Zealand what largely is a second-string unit with several youngsters who will be vying a place for the 2024 T20 WC.
Ravi Shastri opined that India should not be afraid to drop senior players
Shastri reckoned India should follow the template of the T20 world champs England of selecting format-specific players, even if it means that they should drop some big names.
“I wouldn’t like to point out anything, but there’s an opportunity with this team in the future to identify roles for players, identify match-winners, and go pretty much on the template of England. They are one team that really caught the bull by the horns after the 2015 World Cup. They sat down and said they are going to identify the best players for that format of the game – whether it’s T20 or 50-over cricket,” said the former all-rounder.
“Which meant if there were certain senior players who had to sit out, then so be it. They got in youngsters who were fearless, who could adapt to that pattern of the game without having to change their games too much. So it’s a template that can be followed easily; India have got a wealth of resources. And I think it can start from this tour. Because when you look at this team, it’s a fresh, young side. You can identify, you can groom, and you can take this team ahead in two years’ time.”
