With Rahul Dravid given a rest for the series against New Zealand set to begin on November 18, Friday, VVS Laxman will coach the Hardik Pandya-led T20I side and Shikhar Dhawan-led ODI squad. However, many opined that Dravid taking frequent breaks would impact the relationship and morale within the squad and the former Indian cricketer did take a break when South Africa toured India prior to the start of the multinational tournament.
As things stand, former team India head coach Ravi Shastri opined on the same and said that it would affect the relationship between players and the coach. Saying that he was against head coaches taking breaks, Shastri claimed that the 2-month break during the Indian T20 League might suffice for Dravid.
“I do not believe in breaks. Because I want to understand my team, I want to understand my players and I want to then, be in control of that team. These breaks… what 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 was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times when asked about Dravid’s break.
VVS Laxman is right: Ravi Shastri
Laxman claimed ahead of the series that the specialist batters would come into play in the contest and added that the team management must work on finding the right players who could play the role, especially in the shortest format of the game.
Agreeing with Laxman, Shastri said that it was the need of the hour and added that the Indian team management must work on finding youngsters who could light up the stadium with their fielding efforts and fearless batting.
“I think that is the way forward. VVS is right. They will identify the specialists, especially with youngsters because going forward, that should be the mantra. Two years from now, identify and make that Indian team into a terrific fielding side and of course identify roles for these youngsters who could be fearless. And go out there and play that kind of cricket without any baggage whatsoever,” said Shastri further.
