Chasing ICC title is a bloody obsession, claims Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri, without a second thought, strongly believes that he is a winner. He has adopted winning ways ever since he enjoyed the honour of being a part of the Indian Team that won their maiden World Cup title in 1983, the most celebrated title in the history of Indian cricket. And now, as a coach, Shastri has the same dreams for the current Indian side. 

Under Shastri, the team has played the semifinals of 2015 World Cup, the 2016 World T20 and the World Cup earlier this year in England. However, the team that is so strong across formats has failed to lift the title. But with the head coach around, India is not writing off winning a title. 

“Huge [obsession to win an ICC trophy]. I am a winner, man. I have been part of a World Cup team that won in 1983. I have been part of a World Championship team that won in 1985. I’m a coach of the Indian team which has been the No. 1 Test team in the last three years. I like to win. So, yes, would you say that [I am after] one event [ICC title]; I’ll chase that, with my team,” Shastri was quoted as saying by the TOI.

However, Shastri believes in the process more than the results. Earlier, captain Kohli had also expressed similar thoughts on the same topic. Even though winning an ICC title was "like an obsession" with the public, but the skipper said that the team prioritises processes over results and numbers. 

“We [the players] obviously have the desire to win big tournaments and big series and we want to give our best effort possible. But, if you focus on things which are only based on success and numbers and results, you don’t enjoy the process. We play well as a team because we enjoy the process,” Shastri added.

The coach and captain seem to be on the same page about enjoying the process as a whole. However, the passion of winning hasn’t ever got a hit. Shastri believes that under Kohli’s captaincy, the Indian team will go down as one of the greatest teams ever. The team’s next big target is the WT20 in Australia next year.

“It is an obsession for me. I am going to chase it, with my team. This team will go down in the history of Indian cricket, in world cricket, as one of the best teams of the century,” he claimed.

“Okay. I’m telling you now. But we are going to chase that [ICC title], and that will be cherry on top of the cake. We are chasing it. My team, me, my management, we are chasing it. So, if you say it’s an obsession, it is a bloody obsession. Get that right.”