The Road To Victory: Look At India’s World Cup Cricket Squad

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

India is gearing up to host the 50-over Cricket World Cup in October, 2023. As every other Indian cricket fan, my mind goes back to the summer of 2011. Ravi Shastri screaming on the mic “Dhoni finishes off in style” still echoes in our heart. The hope and expectations from every Indian fan at every ICC event is for the Indian team to lift the trophy. The world cup squad for the 50 over 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup has been announced. In this article, let us dig a little deeper into our squad and see if they can repeat the 2011 Magical performance.

2023 World Cup Squad

India has a solid top order loaded with experience. The return of Bumrah is a gift and together with Siraj, pace department is stocked. Spinners especially Kuldeep is in top form. Moreover, playing in home conditions should help the batters and bowler. But, When Rohit Sharma was questioned in the press conference about the lack of all rounders in the team. His response was very casual, “We have to play with who we got. May be myself or Virat can bowl.” This is a statement of concern. Is the team good enough to win the world cup especially with some unanswered questions.

Strengths and Weakness of ’23 Squad

The Number 4 Slot

An issue that was there in 2019 WC and is still open. Who is going to play at Number 4? It highly looks like it is going to be Shreyas. But he is coming back from a injury. His weakness with short ball is well documented and he will be targeted with short ball barrage. Meanwhile, Suryakumar looks out of sorts and has not clicked in the limited opportunities he has got. KL Rahul could be another option but he too is coming back from an injury and not someone that I would consider.

The Keeper Conundrum

Who is the best person to don the gloves? Rishab Pant’s injury came at the worst possible time for team India. First, Rahul is a decent keeper but blows hot or cold with the bat. Seocond, Ishan though inexperienced in ODIs is good keeper and a terrific striker of the ball. Also, he brings that much needed left hander in the batting department. But he has been playing as an opener and it’s hard to displace the current openers, Rohit and Subhman. Can he play down the order? Does he possess the much needed temperament to play in the middle order?

Batters Who Bowl

Another issue that has continued from 2019 world cup. Evidently, India has to play with 4 bowlers and 2 all rounders in Ravi Jadeja and Hardik Pandya. Even if one bowler has a bad day, it looks like tough day in the office for bowlers. Looking back the 2011 side, 8 out of 11 could bowl which gave the captain some great options. Sachin, Virender, Suresh Raina and Yuvi all them chipped in. Did India miss a trick here by not being strategic and lacking a long term vision?

Is it too One Dimensional

The pace attack and the batting order, when Rahul and Shreyas play, will look too one dimensional. The top order will have no left handed batters to provide that left right combo to disturb bowler’s line and length. Also, the pace bowling department has no left arm fast bowlers. Why did India not take Arshdeep? Or failed to groom a good left arm fast bowler after Zaheer Khan would remain mystery. Besides, why have both Jadeja and Axar who are very similar? I would have gone with Yuzi Chahal to have a variation in the side. Moreover, The World Cup is in India so bringing a replacement isn’t all that difficult.

But we have to play with who we have and this what my playing XI would be for the first few games.

  • Rohit (C)
  • Subhman
  • Virat
  • Rahul
  • Ishan (WK)
  • Hardik
  • R Jadeja
  • Shardul
  • Kuldeep
  • Shami
  • Bumrah

Squad of 2011 World Cup: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-cricket-world-cup-2010-11-381449/india-squad-497114/series-squads

What happened to the Mighty Windies: Unravelling the Decline

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Once a dominant force in world cricket, a team that won 2 consecutive cricket One-Day International World Cups and almost won the 3rd one, has failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup in 2023. The 2 time Twenty20 World Cup champions only recently failed to qualify for the T20 world cup as well. I have always been a big fan of the Caribbean way of playing cricket and the swag they bring to the sport. Their steady decline is a shocker and a disheartening one not only the Caribbean cricket fans but every cricketing fan in general. The team once showcased a formidable combination of talent, flair, and dominated world cricket with their intimidating attitude. They have struggled to maintain its past glory in the last couple of decades. The fall of the mighty Windies is inexplicable.

My first memory of the great cricketing team was watching them play, dominate and win the 1975 and 1979 World Cup on my Peripa’s (uncle) VCR tapes. Viv Richards, Greendige, Gomes, Haynes, Lloyd, Walsh, Ambrose, Lara and so many greats entertained the fans in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ask any cricketer in that era, they would dread facing the pace bowling of the mighty Windies. Those pulls and hooks of Lara and the resilience of Chanderpaul are still fresh in my memory. I would stay up all night in India to watch India tour of Caribbean. Such was the excitement but there is hardly any now. So what could be the reason behind this steep decline?

Statistically, Windies have won only ~30% of their test matches in the past 25 years. In the last couple of decades their ODI win percentage has dropped below 50%. To make things worse their stock in T20 has also dropped alarmingly. According to me, there are many reasons behind this fall in quality. Some of them are

  • Awful Management: Cricket West Indies have to take a huge blame for this sharp decline. They have been at loggerheads with current and former players many times. They have faced criticism for not being transparent, poor governance and lack of stability. The board once even threatened to pullout the players from the World Cup if they do not agree with their terms. Different board presidents had different agenda but I am sure Cricket Windies was not in their plans.
  • Player Exodus: Since the advent of franchise cricket, global cricket travellers have increased especially from Caribbean cricket. Players like Russell, Naraine, Pollard started prioritizing franchise cricket that offered lucrative deals over international cricket. The best players did not play regional cricket or international cricket thereby causing a dip in quality. A recent press article reveals that Nicolas Pooran earns 8 times his International fee in just 2 months at IPL.
  • Poor Infrastructure and Lack of Development : There has been hardly any investment in developing cricket at grassroot level and run academies efficiently to keep the talent flowing. There has been hardly any talent that is worthy of a discussion in the recent past.
  • Impact of T20: Too much T20 has also impacted West Indian Cricket a lot. There is no patience for the players to build the innings especially in test and ODI cricket. The cricketers are either undercooked or know only one way of playing their game. There needs to be aggression but you also need to know when to slow down.
cricket players wearing gear

It is important to preserve the heritage of cricket and West Indies are a big part of the history. They need to find a way to reinvent the wheel and make a comeback. Rome was not built in a day and the same should be applied to West Indian Cricket. To change their fortunes, they should think long term and focus on nurturing young talent. Provide them with opportunities and resources to develop their skills. Arrange A-team tours and back the talent to come good. They must help their cricketers to find a balance between franchise cricket and International Cricket. Create a transparent system for the players and the administration to have an open conversation.

Only through proper strategic planning and a phased execution can help them regain their past glories and become a formidable force again. They should now focus on 2024 T20 which they are the hosts and build a team for 2027 starting with the India series. Comment on your favorite moment associated with West Indian Cricket or post your thoughts on the article in the comments section.

In Their Own Words: Impactful Statements That Inspire and Empower

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

For people who know me sports have played a significant role in shaping my thought process and how sports personalities across the world have inspired my day-to-day activities. Sports have had a significant impact on my perspective, and I find inspiration in athletes worldwide. Beyond their skills, style of play and experience, I have always been fascinated by how they answer some questions thrown at them. Their answers to tough questions have been a valuable source of life lessons for many.

Currently, IPL 2023 is in its business end, and Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans have made it to the finals. Chennai Super Kings won in a dramatic match, and this marked their 10th final appearance – more than any other team thus far. During the post-match presentation, my favourite commentator in this generation, Harsha Bhogle, asked Dhoni if playing in the 10th final felt like just another final to him. Dhoni responded quickly and with conviction, stating that every IPL final is significant, and despite it being the team’s 10th final, it still holds immense importance.

Courtesy: ESPNcricinfo. Dhoni the leader letting the team cherish the moment and finding happiness in them having fun.

Another important interview that I loved in the past week was that of Erik Ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United Men’s football team. Victory against Chelsea secured Manchester United the top 4 spot which is something that is minimum for a club of such a big stature. In the post-match talk, he was asked now that the top 4 spot is secure, does he feel accomplished? He was quick to remind the interviewer that there is one more game to go and there is pride and 3rd place to play for.

These statements speak about how Dhoni and Erik treat each and every game seriously. They exude confidence both on and off the field that rubs on the players. Despite their significant achievements on the field, they still take every game seriously. Their statements ensure that their teams stay alert and level despite their achievements. This is a phenomenal lesson for not only their teams but also many leaders across the world. You might have a wealth of knowledge and have an abundance of experience in your domain but it is still important for you to be humble and respect every action and milestone in your team. It is important to stay in the moment, treat every step as an important one and be a team player despite being a leader.

Indeed, leaders like Dhoni and Erik continue to inspire and teach us life lessons that extend beyond the realm of sports itself. Leaders like them remind us of the values of staying humble, dedicated, determined, being a team player, and hard work – traits that will help us achieve continuing success.

Up next on vyasonkeys, CSK’s victory this season is a great template for many organizations across the industries. Look forward to the next blog on What some organizations can get right to sustain success in the long run.

Revamping T20 Cricket: The New Rules and Their Impact

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

T20 or Twenty 20 cricket has been a huge hit amongst fans and has revolutionized the world of cricket over the past couple of decades. Ever since it was introduced in 2003, it has given a new lease of life to many cricket associations through the franchise-based cricket model bringing in money that could sometimes fund a country for years. Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and others have changed the way cricket is followed and watched across the world. These T20 tournaments have not only helped bring more revenue but has also helped unleash new talent.

T20 was introduced to spice up the cricketing fraternity. With growing popularity, every governing body has tried to add more spice to their T20 tournaments, to make it more interesting and appealing for fans across the world. As a traditionalist who still loves watching test cricket, I found it very hard to take a liking to T20 and some of these new rules I believe can help revive the interest in other forms of cricket. Listing some of those rules that clicked with me and some that did not.

2 different team sheets: In IPL 2023, the captains can walk out with 2 different team sheets and can select a XI based on the outcome of the toss. This takes away the “Win toss, Win Match” trend in the IPL. This makes sense especially when the condition of the match is affected by the dew factor, making it easier for the team batting second to chase targets. Extending this rule to International cricket across all formats, especially One Day Cricket, would make a great difference. This rule would surely be a hit.

Impact Substitute: Each team can nominate a set of 5 players and choose to replace a player at different stages of the game like the end of the innings, the end of an over, the fall of a wicket, or when a player retires. Once the impact player is used, the substituted player can play no further part in the game even as a fielder. My take on this rule is that this takes away the benefit of having 2 different team sheets and also in many instances, an impact player who replaced a player who already got out, got a chance to bat again. This makes no sense. The T20 game is already spiced up and loaded in favour of batters. Interestingly, Big Bash League got rid of this change which was introduced in the name of “X-factor”. I believe this rule would be a great fit for test cricket, played over 5 days and with changing conditions, bringing this rule will increase the interest in Test cricket.

DRS for wides and no-balls: DRS or Decision Review System is now available for teams to review wides and no-balls. Earlier the teams were allowed to only review when someone is adjudged out or not out. The number of reviews has also been increased from 1 to 2. These changes make a lot of chance. T20 is a game of very fine margins and a wide ball or a no-ball can make a world of difference. But some more clarity on how to decide on the wide or no-ball especially when the batter moves around the crease would be very beneficial to the teams and the spectators. This rule should stay for sure.

DRS: Decision Review System aka Dhoni Review System
Image Courtesy: Wisden

I was also impressed with a couple of new changes that were brought in the Big Bash League(BBL) in Australia.

Power Surge: A separate 2-over powerplay that can be used by the batting team after the completion of one-half of the overs. This was a really interesting rule and kind of added uncertainty to the way the game was played. This rule was done away with. But I would prefer this to come back but for the power surge to be taken by the bowling team rather than the batting team to give it a little twist.

Bash Boost: This one once again makes the contest more interesting. The calculation is fairly simple whichever team has the higher score midway through the second innings gets a bonus point. This would make a good equation in the points table. A good contest will get additional points for the teams.

Some rules that would make test cricket and ODIs more interesting are something that I would like ICC – International Cricket Council to consider.

Master Blaster Turns 50: A Tribute to Sachin Tendulkar

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

24th April has always been a special day for a long time. 50 years ago, this day a child with superhuman abilities was born in Mumbai and went on to capture the hearts of millions of cricket enthusiasts across the world and ruled the sport for 3 decades. He broke multi records some of which I doubt anyone would break in the near future. He changed the way cricket was played in India and inspired many to take up the sport and batting in particular. His name is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Photo Courtesy: Sachin Tendulkar Instagram

My first memory of Sachin was the 1992 world cup in the classic retro jersey. I was hardly 5 years old then so this did not feel big to me. But it was in 1993 that I took a liking to this genius when he bowled the defended 6 runs in the final over to lead India to the finals. I instantly took a liking to him. To me, he was everything. I remember when I played badminton against a tall opponent, my sir asked him if I can manage, I confidently responded that if Sachin a guy who was hardly 5 foot 5 inches can not only play Curtly Ambrose who was standing tall at 6.5 feet so could I play well against a taller guy as well. Such was the mark he left upon me.

My joy was unbound when my father took me to watch him live at the famous Chepauk – MA Chidambaram Stadium to watch a test match against Australia. To watch him take the battle to the dominant Aussies was extra special for a 9-year-old me. Over the years, my love and admiration for my hero went up leaps and bounds. There was a period where if Sachin got out, millions of TVs around the country would be turned off and when he played the time would freeze. I used to sit in front of my prayer room when he plays and would pray for him to score a century and lead India to victory when he plays.

Here is a glimpse of some of my favourite events featuring Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Most Favorite Moment: A 22-year-old dream was fulfilled when Ravi Shastri screamed in the commentary box – Dhoni finishes off in style, and Sachin lifted the world cup finally after 5 unsuccessful attempts. I was going crazy at my friend’s place. Little did I realize that I was welling up and tears of joy rolled down my cheek.

Most Favorite Shot: Sachin can play every shot in the book. The classic cover drive on the up against Wasim Akram, the uppercut against Shoaib Akhtar, the pull shot against Andrew Caddik or the glance down to the fine leg boundary but the shot that stood out the most for me was his trademark straight drive. According to me, no one can play it better than the great master blaster. My celebrations went wild when I saw him play this shot from D stand MAC, the perfect stand for viewing this shot, the crowd just stood up and applauded the shot for sometime.

Courtesy: ICC Instagram account

Favourite Century: It is a hard task picking 1 from his 100 hundred. But to me, it would always be his century against Sharjah in 1998 which is famously known as the Desert Storm innings. He took the fight to the Aussies who were otherwise considered undefeatable. He believed in himself and single-handedly took India to the finals and scored another century to help India lift the trophy. 1998 stamped his authority as the best One Day International player to have played the game. Virat Kohli is the closest to the legend in matching his records and stands a chance to beat his ODI records.

Favourite Wicket: Sachin was pretty handy with the ball as mentioned in the introduction. He claims that he wanted to be a fast bowler and thanks to the MRF Pace Foundation, he quit that dream. My initial memory of him was bowling right-arm medium but then switched to Right Arm Spin. To me, the best wicket he took was that of Moin Khan on a flat Multan pitch that offered nothing for the bowler. This changed the course of the match.

Sachin dismissing Moin Khan of the last ball of the day.

Favourite Innings: This is a toughie but I am going to go with the innings at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where he scored an unbeaten 241. What made this knock extra special is that he did not play a cover drive that entire innings despite being teased by the bowlers. It is very tough for a batsman to restrain for that long but he had the grit and the patience to avoid that shot that caused his downfall in the previous matches.

Sachin the Leader: Sachin never had a great tenure as the captain of India which is something that I wish he had. But no one is 100% and if it was not meant for him, so be it. But he carried along well playing under different captains. His input was keenly listened to by everyone on the team. Had it not been for him and other seniors, India would have not got its greatest captain in its Men’s cricket history, MS Dhoni. He conducted himself very well on and off the field leading by example for the younger generations. His recalling Ian Bell after being run out is one of the best cricketing leadership moments I have seen.

Happy Birthday to the Genius who taught billions across the world to dream and lead the way. May you continue to spread smile across the faces of your fans for many more years to come. SACHIN SACHIN will forever be ringing in our ears.

The Ultimate Rockstar

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

March 4, 2022, I felt a part of my childhood was taken away from me when the news of the passing away of the World’s best spinner, Shane Warne. People might argue with me on the title of best spinner ever, but I agree to disagree with them. When Healy or Gilly yell “bowling Shane” you know some magic is happening and more to come. Warne was a special cricketer and great analyst of the game who played the game with great pride and passion second to none. There is a lot to learn from Warne’s career and personality and here is my take on how he has left a lasting impression on the youngsters and professionals across the globe.

The Fan Moment: Though Warne made a huge mark on the cricketing circles with the Ball of the century to Mike Gatting, I started following Warne with more curiosity during the 1998 Australia tour of India. Sachin Tendulkar, the batting genius, whom I thought could play anyone on any given day made special preparations to face Warne speaks volumes of this wizard. I remember the first time I saw him live he dismissed Sachin cheaply for 4 and I cursed him for spoiling the day. Every time Warne bowled I used to bite my nails or hold my heart, because this genius could cause serious damage. Cut to 2004 Chepauk(MA Chidambaram Stadium) erupted in joy when he dismissed Irfan Pathan to move past Muralidharan to become the then world record holder. This shows the kind of respect and adulation that spectators and rival teams had for Warne.

Gone too soon, Warney…

A leader without the title, Shane Warne was easily the best leader who never captained Australia. It might have been partly because of his off-field antics but he never shied away from taking up the leadership role and speaking his mind to his captains. His captains speak so high of the inputs and ideas he brought to the table. For him, the title did not matter, winning as a team mattered which brought joy to millions of Australians. Every professional should think about what contribution do they bring to the team and the value they help deliver to the customer/users and not worry much about the title. By doing this, the title and the rewards will find their way to you.

“Part of the art of bowling spin is to make the batsman think something special is happening when it isn’t“

Shane Warne The planner and the executioner…
Courtesy: Cricket Australia. Not indented for copyright infringement.

Planning and Execution go hand in hand. Good planning should be backed up by an equally good execution to get the right results. Warne was good at planning and great at the execution of his trade. This video is a sample of how much he analyzes his opponents and plans his moves. The clarity of thought and the way he went about his execution were phenomenal. As professionals, we plan, create roadmaps but we also need to ensure that the execution and performers are empowered to perform the tasks. Execution should not be tied to the success or failure of the product. It is what you learn from the success or failure and how you build on top of it, which Warne did throughout his career.

Warne’s farewell test

KISS & Repeat – Keeping it simple, straightforward and repeat. Such was his bowling action. I might be right to assume that anyone who started bowling leg-spin mimicked his action. The reason, it was simple, straightforward and repeatable. When your actions adhere to this principle, it is easily understood and allows us to sense how people react to them. When we keep things simple, they tend to be robust, the probability of getting things right is high and there are fewer moving parts. In totality, simplicity leads to high accuracy, increased reliability, and higher productivity.

“Work hard, have fun and make history“

attributed to Jeff Bezos

Hard work was his mantra. Warne worked hard, in fact, he had to work so hard that he had to fight and take most of his wickets on pitches that did not suit spin bowling. Add to that he had to tussle with legends of the game like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Merv Hughes, Jason Gillespie to name a few. More than 500 wickets on not so helpful conditions required hard and smart work. Warne had fun going about his job. He cherished every moment he played and loved entertaining the crowd. In the process, he ended up making history.

A champion is remembered. A legend is never forgotten. Warne will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Rockstar.

Impressions: India’s Tour of Australia – Part 2 – Leadership Case Study

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

In the words of former India coach John Wright “You know coaching is tough and you make this team or that team, you are sometimes judged by the results. This is a tough assignment.” Coaching a high-profile team like Indian Cricket Team, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Brazilian Football(soccer) team can take its toll. If you have second thoughts, ask the managers who were fired by Real Madrid or Chelsea to know how results have had an impact on their job. I thought coaching in cricket was all about only man-management but all of that changed post the impact that the Indian coaching team on their recent series victory over the Aussies.

Great Coaching is the GOLDEN KEY to improve and manage employee engagement

Know your opponents and do your homework: It is extremely important for the leadership to understand the opponents, know their strengths and weaknesses beforehand, and do their homework long before the game starts. You train by simulating situations and try to replicate your plans. This is exactly what the Indian team did, the coaching team analyzed the opponents and set the vision for the team to remove the off-side for the strongest batsmen of the Australians. The plan was well executed and the team won. This Laissez-Faire Leadership style has inspired great organizations. The leaders in the team set the vision and goals and trusted the team to execute their plans. The responsibilities were delegated and well defined with very little interference.

“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their growth.” – John Whitmore

What to do when the chips are down: 36 all out, match ended in one session, and to top it captain is on paternity leave. In these tough times, it is very difficult to maintain a positive and pleasant environment. The leadership team was in prime focus and the pressure was on. The team management believed in their team, their skillset, and their values despite the presence of many inexperienced players in the team. The management team identified what was needed and worked on those gaps efficiently. They went on an attacking mode rather than going too defensive. Drawing parallels in the business world, a Coaching Style Leadership will ensure that the youngsters in the receive the much important confidence to work efficiently. It is also possible that some employees might feel micro-managed and the leaders need to know when to stop.

“A manager is a title, it does not guarantee success. Coaching is an action, not a title and actions will result in successes!” Catherine Pulsifer

Tough times demand tough talk: Fourth innings of the 3rd Test, India down, and mostly out. India managed to pull out a draw thanks to Ravi Ashwin(Sore back), Hanuma Vihari(Hamstring/loss of form), and Rishabh Pant(Place under scanner). 4th test was even worse considering the leaders of the attack were injured. It was seen as a battle between 1000+ wickets versus 13 wickets and add the threat of the much-hyped Gabba. The leaders played a key role in instilling belief and self-confidence among the members. The coaching staff should be appreciated for their strong Transformational Leadership that helped communicate a clear vision and strategy to the team. Ashwin and Bumrah despite being injured, helped the team from the sidelines. In organizations, transformational leaders pull their team of their comfort zone and push them to perform above and beyond. Ravi and his team were charismatic and transformational as they are skilled communicators, verbally eloquent, but also able to communicate to the team on a deep, emotional level.

The video explains why this victory means a lot to India and world cricket

There is not a set type of leadership style that works always. Good leaders know when and how to adapt their styles according to the situation. Though there are other forms of leadership styles, the above-mentioned styles of leadership is something I have seen exhibited by my mentors and leaders that have worked wonders for the organizations that I have been a part of. Sports has also seen autocratic leadership style in Greg Chappel, John Buchanan, who disturb the equilibrium and harmony of the side resulting in bad performances and results. It is a style that is highly detested and leaders need to have control of the organization but also ensure that they consult the right lieutenants to take a good decision.

Next Up: An immigrant family who are a smashing hit across the horizon.

Impressions: Australia 20-21 A Leadership Crash Course – Part 1

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Some people you meet or some events in life leave an ever-lasting impact on your journey. This series is a collection of events or meetings that happened in my life that helped shape not only my career but helped me develop a personality as well. Let us start with the most recent event, that had stunned the cricketing world – India’s victory over Australia in Gabba. It is by no means is a small achievement, given the team was in dungeons and highly inexperienced.

I was shown the picture of the Indian team celebrating with the trophy and was asked what do I see in this picture. My responses were grit, hard work, determination, and so on. But in retrospection, my response should have been a calm and composed leader who is composed by the side and led the side with distinction and determination.

To put the situation in perspective, the team had lost the match in one of the most humiliating fashion and a stand-in captain whose own form has been patchy comes in. The team fights back in a resilient way to win the Melbourne Test. It was written as off as a flash on the pan. The team was down and almost out in the Sydney test, 2 players with a torn hamstring and sore back fought 2 sessions to save the match for the team. Gabba was hyped up so much that the Aussie captain tried playing mind games with the batsmen to unsettle them warning them what’s awaiting them at Gabba. Indians lost 2 key bowlers for the Gabba test and the comparison of wickets were 1033 wickets(Aussies) Vs 13(Indians – 2 Debuts). A resounding victory on Day 5 surprised and shocked many around the world.

All praises were deservedly reserved forplayers like Jadeja, the 3-D player, Ashwin and Vihari for that fighting match-saving defensive masterclass, Pujara for all those body blows and patience, Pant for his fearlessness, Siraj for his maturity and bowling, and debutants in Gabba who showed to signs of nervousness. Amidst, all this one man was not much in the limelight much like his character I believe, Rahane. Remember, Ajinkya Rahane, the stand-in captain, who not so long ago was sacked as the captain of an IPL team and was traded to a different team. His place on the side was in question as well. His leadership skills went a little unnoticed and in my view, it is in fact a leadership crash course that had a lasting impact on me.

His leadership left the following impression on me which I believe is key for any leader of an organization looking to build a successful organization.

Humility: Across the series, one aspect that was on display consistently was that there were many leaders in the team. Captain sought out others who could help and his words own words ‘Take responsibility but enjoy it without pressure’ brought confidence amongst players like Pujara and Ashwin. Despite being injured seniors were ever-present in the dugout and sending out tips and enjoyed their role leading to the success of the team. Identifying leaders, giving them responsibility, and allowing them to execute without pressure makes a world of difference in their output. It gives them the license to fail and learn rather than being scrutinized on a regular basis.

There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self. – Henri Frederic Amiel

Emotional Intelligence and Control: I am a big fan of Ajinkya’s style of leadership (much in Dhoni’s style). Many catches were dropped by either side especially Indian fielders who dropped a few dollies. It is true that catches win matches but getting over your mistakes and backing of the leader could galvanize the side. The leader of the pack sets the tone for the team and it does reflect on their performance. The leader of the group should be emotionally intelligent to understand and manage not only their emotions but that of others around them as well. It is said that Ajinkya asked Ashwin to be less bothered about his batting failures and focus on his bowling when Ashwin was hard on himself for his failures. This reflected not only on his bowling but also on his batting in Sydney.

“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.” ~ Dalai Lama. Thus has been Rahane’s impression on me in handling an inexperienced team to instill confidence amongst the teammates and to achieve the unimaginable. His captaincy is a good leadership lesson for any budding leader to be successful.

Up Next: Management lessons from India’s victory in Australia.

T20 and its after effects

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

“It’s raining sixes and fours at Panchkula – Tony Grieg”. This famous line was uttered by Tony Grieg during the ICL T20 tournament that was held recently. And it’s not true only with the ICL T20 but true for all the T20 tournaments. IPL has so far witnessed a minimum of 750 sixes and more than 1500 fours. This is a stunning figure. Sunil Gavaskar used to tell that his coach would ask him to go around the ground at least twice if hits the ball in the air during nets. But these days most balls are hit only in the air thanks to the shortest form of cricket.

The shots are being invented or rather being manufactured. The life of the bowlers has become even more difficult. T20 is more of a batsmen’s game. Nearly 450 runs were scored in the match between Super Kings and Kings XI in just 40 overs. So the run rate was more than 11 and over. Oops, this is really amazing. Boundary lengths were shortened for making T20 more interesting. But the balls are flying deep into the stands. Sometimes out of the stadium like the one Albie Morkel hit recently. Even the pattis(grandmas), aunties and girls of India have started sacrificing their MEGA serials for the sake of great action. This has put T20 above the test and ODI formats of the game in terms of viewership. And the support for T20 keeps increasing day by day. A chip over a short fine leg or a slog over mid-wicket draws a huge cheer than the one for the old-fashioned shots.

Will test cricket lose its charm because of this T20?? Will Hard Hitting be the mantra of cricket in future?? Will shots of players like Dravid, Sachin, Kallis, and Waugh which have been classical all life be remembered??

IPL 2 – A Talent Hunt

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

“IPL has changed the way the Indians play their cricket. It has created a winning attitude in them” – Andrew Flintoff

Yeah, it has certainly done the things that Freddie and many others say. It unleashed so many talents in India and also all around the world like Raina(Comeback platform), Y. Pathan, R. Jadeja(fielder par excellence), Team spirit ( Rajasthan Royals), Gony(overcame all personal problems), Shaun Marsh (find of the season) etc… I have named just a few. The main thing the IPL succeeded in was bringing crowds in larger nos. to the stadium which included ladies (can’t see many in test matches and ODIs). India all of a sudden became a strong team in ODIs. We had great bench strength which according to me is the greatest positive out of IPL 1. India has a reasonable backup for every player now. The crowd’s reaction was awesome. I am proud to be a part of the CSK fan base, a fan base that has been appreciated by players from all the teams for their support for quality cricket. (remember the reaction of the Chennai crowd after Pakistan’s victory in 1999).

So what can we expect out of IPL 2 as it has moved out of India??? It’s a simple small question which has many mind-blowing beautiful answers. I would like to focus on the thing which according to me is the biggest positive that will come out of IPL 2. The thing that I am talking about is adaptability. Yes IPL 2 is bound to act as a talent hunt according to me. What will happen to the Indian team once Sachin, Dravid and Laxman hang up their boots? India will be in need of players who can adapt quickly to foreign conditions. It is the biggest question right in front of us and this IPl is a good opportunity for us to test it. As IPL is organised in a short duration people need to adapt very quickly. this can be used as a test for certain players to prove their worth in bouncy pace tracks of SA(they seemed to be slow in the SA-AUS series though). Though I would miss the live action of IPL. I will still pray and support CSk or MI to win the IPL. Hope India finds more suitable, Stable and reliable talents this time also…..

There is also so much money involved… I am waiting to see any person who has slept in platforms to attend cricket trials (Kamran Khan)…. could he be the next millionaire?? Jai Ho……