Cricketers ‘are not machines’
The man who masterminded India’s Asia Cup victory shares his philosophy during a visit to Gulf News
The man who masterminded India’s Asia Cup win shares his philosophy with Gulf News |
Ravi Shastri, who masterminded India’s victory in the Asia Cup as the head coach of the team, revealed that his message to his team was to compete by ‘enjoying’ the moment and without being under pressure.
Despite the Asia Cup final getting over past midnight on Friday and his celebrations with the team extending close to dawn, Shastri took time off for an exclusive interview at the
Gulf News office yesterday, explaining his method as well as how he deals with the top stars in the team.
After revealing that the team did find time to party for a while after the win, he said: “There is always time to party because I tell people to enjoy the moment. With the schedule that exists, for this team, such moments are very little because in two days, we all assemble in Rajkot. Last night, we reached the hotel after the match by 2am but we made sure to get together and have a good time for maybe three hours.”
Shastri has a simple mantra for the boys. “My mantra for the boys is every game you play, you play to compete, play to win and bring that kind intensity into the game. Lot of people might have been shocked when they saw India, despite being two-and-half months in England, to pull out the intensity they did right through this tournament and even on Friday — despite Bangladesh playing brilliantly,” he said.
The former Indian all-rounder’s approach of giving players a break from intense practice sessions had often come in for criticism. “We got about eight months to go for the World Cup and we are playing all formats. In our country we got to win every game.
Resting players
“The fact of the matter is that I want guys on the park. They are men not machines, you can’t just put rocket fuel 98 Octane and tell them go out there and play. They need to recuperate and need the rest, hence it has become a practice now for the team management to try and rest players as much as they can. People think an extra day of practice is going to do wonders. In fact, it is counterproductive,” he said, revealing how he paced out the team during the Asia Cup.
“We did not practice here one day. When I came and saw the conditions here, I said no practice because it is not about the physical part of it. You are not going to learn cricket in one day. it is how you rest the mind so that you get clarity of thought in what you do. You need those guys who give their body a break and their minds a break to come out and play in that match.”
Shastri is happy that his approach did produce the best from the boys which included emphatic victories over arch rivals Pakistan. “We had emphatic wins. To win over Pakistan with 20 overs and 10 overs to spare and that too in the gulf is special. I have been coming here since 1980. This is Pakistan’s den ... so I must compliment the boys for putting up an absolutely clinical performance. When I say clinical. I mean in all departments, batting bowling and fielding. You’ve got to raise the bar to that level to beat a team like Pakistan.”
Is there any change he has brought to the dressing room atmosphere? Do players see him as coach, guide or philosopher? “It is a combination of everything. Dressing atmosphere is fantastic. They want to get out and play and express themselves. There is no fear of failure. When you play that much of cricket you are bound to lose the odd game. As long as you are more consistent with your performance, you win more than you lose, then it becomes a habit, he said.
How does Shastri handle the superstars in the team? “That is man management and that is probably due to my years in the game. The experience I have gathered as a player, as captain, broadcaster, administrator and in different roles. In Indian team, you are not dealing with kids — you are dealing with millionaires. You got to be very smart on how you deal with them and you got to know where to draw a line and at the same they know where to draw the line with me.
“You have got to be tough when needed and really tough when you needed when you find someone not pulling up his socks or adhering to what team ethics and work ethics. At the same time the bottom line is you’ve got to enjoy the game. This is sport, go out and enjoy as you are watched by 50,000 people. Sport is to be enjoyed. You cannot be like a professor with them telling them all the time do this and do that. Let them enjoy themselves.”
Shastri has donned many caps before becoming the coach and so how does he feel about his contribution to the game. “I was always very passionate about the game though I left the game early. I could have had another five years. My last Test was at the age of 30 I had played 80 Tests by that time and I don’t think any in the world had played half or more by that age.”
My mantra for the boys is every game you play, you play to compete, play to win and bring that kind intensity into the game.”
Ravi Shastri » Team India
head coach