Team India is in transition after an unceremonious exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal where India sustained a ten-wicket defeat against England. This has spurred on talks for not only split captaincy but also split coaching and management. After the World Cup, India played a three-match T20I series against New Zealand with a revamped side where the majority of players have been in the Indian team intermittently.
In the absence of the bigwigs of the team, Rahul Dravid too was rested and the coaching mantle was passed on to VVS Laxman. The decision to opt for rest after an arduous T20 World Cup has left many pundits puzzled. One of the many experts is the former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja, who launched an oblique attack on the Indian coach for skipping the New Zealand tour.
Speaking to Prime Video on Sunday during the second ODI between India and New Zealand about how much of an impact Laxman can make during this short series, Jadeja took a dig at Dravid for taking a break. He feels that the two-and-a-half months of IPL is enough rest for a coach, which is a job for a limited time only.
“Coaches don't need a break,” said the former India batter.
Presenter Gaurav Kapur reacted saying, “No? I'm just asking.”
“You get a break for two or two-and-a-half months in the IPL. I mean they are my friends. Vikram Rathour and I go back a long way. Dravid has been a great cricketer for India. I mean, no disrespect for them. But this is a job you do for a couple of years and you give in everything like the players. So not for rest but if it is anything else then...,” Jadeja explained.
Kapur then proposed that Dravid decided to skip the New Zealand tour to be with the Indian test team, Jadeja then retorted the proposition with the response that a few of the players who are in New Zealand for the ODIS are also part of the team and have just four days gap between the two series.
“It's also simple thing of not being at two places at the same time. You can't be unless you are Superman,” said Kapur.
Jadeja replied: “There are gonna be players who are going form here to Bangladesh and there are 4 days gap.”
Kapur said: “There you go, I can't convince Ajay. He's got a valid counterpoint.”
