Ashwin stands by BCCI's decision to lend Rahul Dravid too many breaks

Ashwin last played for India in T20 World Cup 2022 (Source: AP)

Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid-led team management have been under a lot of scrutiny after India's awful exit from the T20 World Cup 2022. There is a lot of talk about replacing the current skipper with Hardik Pandya, while the Head Coach Dravid taking a break has also been questioned by many. 

Recently, the former Indian Head Coach, Ravi Shastri criticised his successor for taking too many breaks, calling a coach to get your 2-3 months of the IPL, that’s enough to rest as a coach.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in the current Head Coach's defence, highlighting the mental and physical burnout that the legendary batter turned coach has gone through in the T20 World Cup. 

While chatting on his Youtube channel, Ashwin commented: "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," the off-spinner further added. 

The Men in Blue - under Hardik Pandya, Shikhar Dhawan and VVS Laxman's leadership - are in New Zealand for a six-match long white-ball series. After a short break, the duo of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will return for the Bangladesh tour.

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