Learnings for the Lifetime and Beyond
“To work we have the right, but not to the fruits of it thereof”
When Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs to secure the win, I was absolutely thrilled and was feeling the dopamine rush as if I was part of the win. Having followed the Indian cricket from the 2000s, I feel that this victory is one for the ages. I watched all of this Border-Gavaskar test series closely, and left with a lot of learnings as I would have when reading a book. I will summarize few of the learnings in the following paras and hope it helps you in whatever you are trying to achieve.
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that “To work we have the right, but not to the fruits of it thereof”. Leave the fruits alone. Why care for the results ? If you wish to help a man, never think what the man’s attitude should be towards you. If you want to do a great or good work, do not trouble to think what the result will be.
This Indian team under the leadership of Rahane did just that after the collapse of the First test match. They never cared for the results, went about fighting hard every session, every day and every match in the best way each individual could. One example of that: In the final session of Brisbane test, with just 10 needed to win and more than 4 overs left, Washington Sundar is playing a reverse sweep to score runs and in the process getting out. The purists would say it as a reckless shot but it is one of the many moments in which I felt they were being honest to themselves and didn’t bother to think what the corresponding result would be from the action.
Just believe in the work you have put behind the scenes and go about it. That’s it.
The biggest learning for us is to know what works best for us. Each one of us are wired differently. The more we know about ourselves, we can work on ignoring the results and think about what needs to be done. You can’t ask for a Pant to be a Pujara and Pujara to be a Pant. If your intention is to survive, survive in your own way. If Pant was trying to block the balls and save the test, we would have lost the game.
Do the work, there is no privilege greater than the pressure to excel, and no greater reward than earning the respect and fear of others who can only stand in the awe of your results.
Inventories can be managed, but people must be led — H. Ross Perot
A leader’s positivity can generate hope in a team that could otherwise believe that defeat is imminent. And hope is the strongest weapon a team can possess. Ajinkya (Meaning Brilliant, Invincible in Marathi) Rahane has instilled the greatest hope for the next generation that no matter how bruised, battered you are, If you have the grit and determination to succeed, you can land the Knockout Punch even after getting blows. You are not out unless you believe you are out.
The most important thing about Optimism is that it can move mountains. You take what everyone else sees as a negative and turn it to your advantage. You don’t sulk, you don’t curl up and die, you glare it and think, if it’s not going to happen this way, it’s sure as hell going to happen that way and you tell everyone who doubts you, ‘I got this’
As Shane Warne says, It is important to erase from your mind what you can no longer do because that will only weigh you down and is a waste of time anyway. Instead you ask yourselves, what you can do.
I have no adjectives to describe Ajinkya Rahane’s control over emotions. Beyond the limits.
From understanding the decision of Kohli to be with his wife for the birth of his daughter, you understand there is more to life than sport. We also need to understand the birth of a new baby is as pure as it can get.
This also tells us that, if you are dependent on one person to perform in a team, then you have already lost the battle. A wonderful team building lesson learnt from all those years in the 90s, when Sachin gets out, we lose.
“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”
– Doe Zantamata
The decision of Siraj to stay in the bio bubble, not go to India to attend the Father’s funeral, holding his emotions to make his debut in the MCG, lead the attack in the final test and take a Five-for. Two things to appreciate and learn from this moment.
First, he sees the big picture. His father’s dream is to see him play for India and he believes that there is an opportunity where he might play for the country. He decides against going to India and stays back. That is the first decision taken and the next important part is to keep all the emotions in check and focus on the performance. The main learning here is whatever we are going through, when it comes to performance, we should make sure that the work is done without emotions. Once you let your emotions take over, then the only way is downhill
Second, This is not about cricket, it’s about the people involved in it. The hug with Bumrah after getting to the pavilion after getting the fifer is all you need to see what human connection is, why it is so important. You can just see what it meant to both of them. You didn’t have to know them personally to know what that moment was all about.
When you come across people who have gone through a similar journey, you connect a lot (Here, Bumrah lost his father when he was five). The best conversations you can have with the people is when there is a connection and you are honest with them. You can feel them, understand them. If you have 5 people in your life, who you can have an honest conversation with, then you are in a good place. The support from the team to Siraj in his darkest moment should be highly appreciated and that positive support created a platform for him to win and in turn helped the team too.
Whenever we find ourselves in a situation where we are seeing our close people going through hard times in life. Be the best support you can be.
In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance — when you least expect it — sets you on a course you never planned, into a future you never imagined. — Nicholas Sparks
From the stories of Natarajan, Washington Sundar, Gill, Shardul Thakur, Rishabh Pant. All I can say is always be on your toes, you will not know when the opportunity will come about, when it does come, just be ready, take it with both arms and give your best.
Rahane’s Leadership, Pujara’s grit , Ashwin’s bravery, Vihari’s Hanuman effort, relentless pursuit of perfection from Cummins, and the list will go on. I can write a book about the efforts of all these people involved in this series. The learnings from this series are beyond our lifetime. The other parallel is that this win is as influential in shaping the minds of a generation as the world cup win in 1983, the NatWest final in 2002 ,and world cup wins under MS. I hope that the Indian Cricket team will dominate in overseas conditions, world cups and cricket like the West Indies of the seventies, eighties and Australia in the early decade of the twenty first century.
To conclude,
“Success isn’t about how much money I can make, it’s never been about that. Success is about doing things that no one else can do.”
All the best to each and everyone in your pursuit of excellence in whatever field you are working.
“Knowledge is power” . Dedicate yourself to learning more about you, have a connection with yourself, you will eventually reach the higher place. Pay attention, cultivate self awareness, feed your strengths and you will find your way.
