Former India captain and batting stalwart Rahul Dravid has been appointed the head coach of the men’s national team to succeed Ravi Shastri.

Dravid, who played 164 tests and 344 one-dayers between 1996 and 2012 and accumulated more than 10,000 runs in both formats, was previously in charge of India’s Under-19 and A teams and is credited for a steady supply of young talent as head of the National Cricket Academy.

Needless to say, Ashwin on Thursday backed the BCCI’s move to give Dravid the top job. Dravid, who was working as the head of the National Cricket Academy, was appointed for a period of two years till the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.

“I think Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid) has got an immense depth of knowledge and he has got good wishing for anything he does in life. He is somebody who has done the hard yards,” Ashwin said during a virtual pre-match press conference in Dubai.

India play Scotland in a must-win game in the ICC T20 World Cup on Friday.

Former India captain Dravid will take charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand, starting November 17.

“He (Dravid) has gone through the journey and the grind of being at the NCA, he has gone through the Indian A (team), he knows what’s in store, he has played with some of us inside this dressing room.

“He also knows all the young boys and I am really looking forward to the stint and trying to contribute alongside Rahul bhai,” said Ashwin, who made a comeback to white-ball cricket after four years. Owe a lot to the family, says Ashwin.