Team India is presently on the tour of New Zealand for 3 T20Is and as many ODIs beneath new captains and teaching employees. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma, top-order batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, head coach Rahul Dravid and his assist employees have all been rested from this tour after the recently-concluded T20 World Cup in Australia.
In Rohit’s absence, Hardik Pandya is main the Indian staff in T20Is and Shikhar Dhawan will take over the accountability in ODIs. VVS Laxman and his assist employees of Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Sairaj Bahutule has taken over the teaching duties from Dravid and Co.
In the meantime, Ravichandran Ashwin has jumped to the defence of his coach Dravid after cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri criticized him for taking a break from the continued New Zealand tour.
Highlighting the bodily and psychological pressure that Dravid and his assist employees has been beneath since they started constructing as much as the 2022 T20 World Cup, Ashwin mentioned: “I will explain why Laxman has gone there with a completely different team because even that could be interpreted differently,” Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube channel.
“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.”
India reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after successful 4 out of 5 group matches, however obtained thrashed by eventual champions England within the knockout recreation.
Ashwin acknowledged the very fact of followers being dissatisfied and said that no excuse can take the sensation away. However, he urged the followers to understand the trouble made by the Indian staff to qualify for the semis.
“Everyone would have felt bad seeing Team India not win the tournament or reach the final. I agree, it would have been shattering. I don’t think any excuse will make you forget it. Definitely, it is a disappointing moment. But we all have to move on,” added Ashwin.
“We can’t call it a disappointing campaign. We lost in the semi-finals. Reaching the semi-finals and finals can be considered an achievement. But from an Indian fan’s point of view, and the expectations they have of this team, I totally understand the disappointment from the fans. But we players are at least 200-300 times more disappointed than what you all went through.”