Cricket - The game with lessons
The popularity of Cricket in India has grown since 83 WC.
It has been an age-long debate - why Cricket is loved more than other sports in India?
One of the reasons which I feel, maybe, things which Cricket has taught us.
(Disclaimer: No disrespect to other sports)
Moreover, the success stories of the cricketers never cease to inspire us.
I have been following Cricket closely from the past two decades and decided to compile some great life examples it taught us.
1. The Nehra Ji Lesson
Ashish Nehra finally drew the curtain to 19 marathon years of cricket in November last year. Among the elite group of Cricketers who have served for such a prolonged duration, he may be nowhere in the list. What, he did better than almost all in the list - Comebacks.
Twelve Surgeries - for a fast bowler - is a nightmare number. Hanging down the boots was perhaps the easiest option.
Moral of the story - You’re going to get setbacks in your career, you have to be patient to get through them
2. The Sreesanth Story
There was a time when you get Sachin out in a Ranji Game, you knock Team India gate straightaway as a bowler.
A young bowler, bowled the little master, with an inswinger. Soon, he was bowling in Indian Colors.
A right talent was always in limelight for wrong reasons. In this gentleman's game, he painted a bad boy image.
Moral of the story - Being talented is not enough, you need to develop the right attitude as well.
3. Growth of Virat Kohli
It was CW tri-series final, India never won any series in Australia.
While I was enjoying the Team India victory there with my brother, discussing the Master Blaster's form and Young Rohit Sharma, news of India winning under 19 in Malaysia under a young leader from Delhi flashed on one of news channels.
“I’ve set some targets for myself, like playing for India at no 3, and I will achieve them soon.â€
Virat said to one of the TV anchors.
“Overconfident and full of attitudeâ€, I remarked to my brother.
Ten years since then, he proved everyone wrong!
Moral of the story - With hard work, you can achieve targets which seem to be impossible at one stage.
4. Comeback Man Yuvi
There’s no doubt that Yuvraj Singh was pivotal in India winning the WC 2011.
When he was in prime form, he was diagnosed with Cancer.
Those surgeries, chemotherapies, bald pics - we all thought his career was over in saddest manner.
A couple of years later, he smashed quickfire 70s against his favourite Aussies to announce his comeback.
Though Yuvi is no more the same athletic player, still he taught us to never give up.
Moral of the story - Never Quit!
5. Luke Pomerbash - the lucky man
Luke Pomersbach (Left-handed Australian batsman) was not in the team for the Australian T20 team to face New Zealand in December 2007. Australia had selected only 12 men in their squad in this one-off game.
Unfortunately, Brad Hodge got injured while cutting nails (just before the match) and their 12th man was also sick.
Luckily, the game was at Perth - Pomersbach home ground.
He was at the ground as a spectator, enjoying his beer and was called in to join the squad at the last minute.
He played well and scored 15 off just 7 balls.
Though he couldn’t make it to the Australian team again, this call earned him hefty contracts in IPL and CPL.
Moral of the story - Sometimes luck is just everything.
6. God of Cricket
No article on Indian Cricket can be complete without Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Records will be broken, for sure - but the manner in which he carried himself for good twenty-two years is an example for all.
His farewell speech shows how much good moral values play a part in the development of an individual. He compiled a whole list of individuals and didn’t forget to mention even individuals like physios and marketing managers.
Moral of the story - Once you become successful, always remember those who helped you to reach there!
7. Smith, Warner and Bancroft ball-tampering
This has been the most highlighted cricket article of the year 2018. This was not first such instance, with Pakistan team leading such incidents in past to get good reverse swing (Waqar, Shoaib, Shahid Afridi and even whole team in 2006).
It was the Cricket Australia decision to ban the trio for almost a year that brought huge reactions. Though as each one of them mentioned, had they known the severe consequences that followed the incident - they would have not committed such mistake.
Moral of the story - As stated by Smith, “ Always think about your family and consequences of your action before you do any such thingâ€.
8. Pravin Tambe - man defying age
Pravin Tambe shot to fame suddenly when Rajasthan Royals picked him for debut at age of 41 for IPL 2013.
Remarkably, before this, Tambe had not even played first-class cricket but was a well-known name in the club cricket circuit.
After making a fantastic IPL debut, Tambe went on to become the leading wicket-taker in the Champions League T20 later that year. His performances that year earned him his maiden call-up for the Mumbai team in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy.
Moral of the story - It is never too late to start!
There’re so many names and such incidents in Cricket history. I tried to pick a handful of them.
If you are a cricket enthusiast and remember similar incidents, leave your favourite one in the comments section!
Credits:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12021371
Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft | Ex-Adobe | Mentor
6yCricket held least of my interest.. But this article definitely did...Astounded by this compelling thought process of yours!!