Dravid's father stands by son's decision

Sharad Dravid backed his son Rahul's decision to give up the Indian cricket team's captaincy, saying he knew what he was doing.

"It is his own decision. Why should one be saddened about it. He knows it... he knows what he is doing," he said, when scribes sought his reaction at the family's Indiranagar residence in Bangalore.

• A checkered run at the helm

Sharad, who had just returned after shopping with an idol of Lord Ganesh, told waiting reporters, "No comments."

Later, he came out to answer few questions for "two minutes", on the advice of the police officials posted outside the residence.

Sharad said Rahul did not discus his plans to quit the captaincy with him or any of the family members.

Asked whether Rahul chose to step down because of some pressure, Sharad replied, "I don't know. I can't say anything on that by any stretch of imagination. I am not a cricketer. He knows it better. He should be in a better position to explain it."

To another query on the whereabouts of his son, he replied: "Maybe he is here (in Bangalore). But not in this house right now."

Rahul is likely to join the family on Saturday to celebrate the Ganesh festival, which, said, "is a big for us".