India vs West Indies 2016: Aim is to play good cricket, says captain Virat Kohli

The Indian Cricket team was recently named as the No.1 Test-playing nation in the world based on their win in the Carribean and other results. Already claiming the 4-Test series by a 2-0 margin against West Indies, captain Virat Kohli admits that there is no scope for them to be complacent about the rankings table achievement with the last Test begining today at Queens Park Oval, in Trinidad and Tobago.

Kohli mentions that their main motive is to play good cricket and not to retain the coveted No.1 spot. As per the reports of Cricbuzz, regarding retaining the top spot by winning the 4th Test he said, “It's a nice incentive, but it doesn't really change anything for the team. Our goal has been to play good cricket, and we've done that in the past one year or so. We want to continue with the same.”

This is the first tour of India under the charge of Anil Kumble who was appointed for the post a few days prior to the series. The coach selection process was accompanied by much drama in the Cricket board, but results prove that the correct decision has been taken.

Kohli feels that the rankings do not portray the real picture of the teams as each of them has not played an equal number of games, and recalls the brief phase last year when India was on the top of the rankings on the basis of other results. He further opined that playing consistently for 3 to 4 years will make a team the best.

“Even last year, when we won against South Africa, because of some other team losing we became number one, for a brief period. I think to be the best side in the world, you need to play consistent cricket for a span of 3-4 years. This is a pretty immediate and short-term incentive. You have to play good cricket for a sustained period of time to actually be the number one team in the world,” said the Indian Test skipper.

The skipper is pretty happy about the conditions of the venue of the 4th Test too and his observations reveal that he expects a spinner-friendly pitch but can assist the pacers if it rains in a couple of days. He said, “Apart from the damp spots, the surface looks pretty dry. Should have turn and bounce, that's the feeling I got, but if we have rain for the next three days on and off, I'm sure the seamers will get much more assistance. Even in the side nets today, the seamers did get a lot of assistance.”

India will also play a two-match T20 International series against West Indies in the United States of America later this month.