The World Cup 2019 Semi-final has silenced a nation of 1.35 billion
people.
The India – New Zealand clash has prompted strong emotions across the
globe. The fans’ reaction is a testimony to their love of the game and ‘Men in
Blue’. One can discard their involvement and ideas as arm-chair suggestions but
without fans, the game is incomplete. The game is a bigger game because of fan,
and it unites everyone – delivery boy, CEO, office staff, families!
What else did I see in the India – New Zealand clash? What can be learn
from it for our life?
1. Innovation
Indian team showed no innovation. India stuck to their old ways. Same
batting order except pushing Dhoni down. Dhoni should have risen up in the
order and he would have anchored the batting. He would have stopped Rishabh and
Hardik from rash shots.
Our Batsman played the same way as they did in earlier matches.
We all need to innovate in life. We cannot keep trying the same things
every time. Our career requires us to develop new skills and bring new ideas to
the table. Innovation is key to success in today’s world. We need to evolve!
2. No Plan B
Indian Team did not have a Plan B. What if our big guns did not deliver?
What if our middle order was exposed? India’s middle order was our biggest
problem and we never worked on it. The lack of Plan B costed us the match.
We had a great opportunity in India vs SL match to give practice to
others. But still Virat came at No.3 and so did others at their own positions.
In life our best planned ideas can go wrong. We need to have a Plan B.
If our dream promotion does not happen, what do we do? If we do not get
admission in IIM, what do we do?
3. Flexibility / Overconfidence
The team came across as stubborn as well. The rains would have made the
batting difficult was a given factor . But our earlier success blinded us to
the new situation. Maybe we got overconfident. What has worked well would
continue!
Respect the conditions. Respect the opponents. Every artist touches the
stage before it performs on the stage – we did not kiss and read the pitch
well.
It is not the strongest or the smartest that survives – it is the most
adaptable that survives. We need to learn flexibility in life. Change as per
the situation and circumstance. Do not be stubborn.
4. Discipline
New Zealand was a disciplined outfit. The batsmen, bowler and fielder
played to the strength. The bowlers stuck to the line and the length. The
batsmen may have been slow but scored a decent score in the circumstances. The
fielding was exceptional including the run-out that broke Dhoni’s stellar run
and Indian hearts.
Indian batsmen were still in their flashy IPL mode. Rishabh Pant and
Hardik Pandya could not control their natural instincts. Clearly Rahul was out
of the place. We had our share of woes in fielding as well. Virat said that 45
minutes of bad cricket cost us the tournaments. That is what happens in life as
well. One bad impulsive action or decision can cause greater regrets!
Whether is studies or financial planning, discipline goes a long way.
Avoid flamboyance. Just do the job silently and consistently. The devil is in
the details. Persistent efforts win!
5. Leadership
New Zealand skipper deserves equal credit for the leadership he
demonstrated. He was the captain cool. Not only did he read the pitch right, he
played to the strengths. Kane Williamson outsmarted India tactically
with the way he attacked upfront and the way he set the field. He was in action throughout out the match and
encouraging the team. He changed the bowlers, backed the colleagues and calmed
every one when Jadeja-Dhoni were on fire. His belief ensured that New Zealand
was through the match.
Many people talked about the luck and the rains. A champion team does
not need luck. And luck favors the brave and the prepared teams. Had India
showed more steel and flexibility, the outcome would have been different. Luck
helped Dhoni and Jadeja. But it also helped Guptill – whose run out was the
worst thing to happen to India. Or Virat’s dicey wicket. But there are no other
excuses – we lost on our own account. We were almost there…but New Zealand got
it better that day! We should have not lost to England – we could have got
another opponent!
But the most important thing is that India put a great emphatic show
during the entire World Cup. All of us loved it and our team was the table
toppers! We had a great semi-final as well where hopes were alive till the last
over. It was Dhoni that gave us the belief that we could still have win
probability of 70% at 5-3. And we got to see Jadeja’s striking response to
Sanjay bits and pieces comment!
Rohit Sharma’s magnificent batting and Bumrah’s magical bowling will
remain in our hearts and minds for long time to come!
Life is about wins and rising after each fall. Sports is the greatest teacher. This too shall pass!
Let us back the BlackCaps for a win! Cricket needs a new champion!
