By Ravi Kumar
In the cricketing saga, a journey profound,
India, a tale of triumph, until the final round.
Unbeaten warriors on the tournament’s stage,
Yet fate wove a twist on this cricketing page.
Through battles won with skill and might,
In the final dance, the script took a slight.
Defeat’s bitter taste in a moment’s span,
Yet lessons aplenty for the astute business clan.
In leadership’s embrace, a captain’s guide,
Adaptability and grace, side by side.
For in the boardroom or on the cricket green,
Resilience weaves the fabric unseen.
Strategies crafted, a meticulous art,
In the business realm, play your part.
Victory’s sweet, but defeat unveils,
A roadmap for those who navigate sales.
Forge partnerships strong, as in cricket’s field,
Mutual respect, a powerful yield.
In the face of challenges, stand as one,
A united front, when the battle is won.
For business minds watching this cricketing duel,
Learn from the pitch, where lessons fuel.
In victory or loss, the journey prevails,
A roadmap for triumph, where strategy sails.
Since the Editor asked me to send an analysis on the India-Australia Men’s World Cup final, I asked my son to fetch me suitable quote. He sat on his computer and dished out the above, saying it was AI-generated, and added that I must not take credit for it.
But I liked the lines, and have therefore carried them here.
So what were the takeaways for the Cup for me, the strategy lessons, if you please.
- The Huddle
As a concept, the huddle may have been inspired from various global sporting events, but it’s now a common practice in cricket as well. It works well in cricket, with some words spoken, some encouragement leading up to the war cry. There are clearly many differences amongst the players – in approach of playing the game, personality or even some professional jealousy. But all that has to be dumped when you form the huddle. It’s all for a common cause.
- Follow the Leader
Rohit Sharma is a shining star of the team, but not the brightest of them. Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are clearly the matchwinners. Sharma may not be Captain Cool like MS Dhoni, but is very cool and calculated and has been leading by example. Plus he has got his IPL Mumbai Indians track record to speak for his leadership. In the World Cup, he has been leading by example and although he wasn’t the highest run-getter, he wasn’t a very distant No 2
- Overall Team Management
Whether it was Coach Rahul Dravid or his crew of bowling, batting, fielding and various other backroom, it’s good to see some continuity with the Indian men’s cricket team. And all these folk are never really out there in the front, and let the players and onfield performance do the talking
- Messaging from the team
It’s good to see some homogeneity in the messages that are coming out from the dressing room. It of course helps that the stars of the team are pretty good at it, given that all of them have their own social media accounts. This is critical to show that the entire is team is unite and collaborative. Cohesiveness, even if there are some fissures, is an important signal that must go out.
- Good second-line of leadership
It’s clear that the team has a good second and third line of leadership, other than former skipper Virat Kohli. Whether it’s KL Rahul or Jasprit Bumrah, it’s important that there is a clean indication of who is the next in command.
- Engage fans, build support
The Australia skipper spoke of the delight he would get in silencing the Ahmedabad audience. Purists of the game aren’t too excited about the hyperactive audiences hooting for the Indian team and booing the opposition, the Indian team is lucky to have a loyal fanbase following them wherever they go. Save Bangladesh and Sri Lanka where the local supporters outnumber them and are fairly vocal. It’s good to engage fans and get the support of the audiences in times of advertsity.
- Cricket = Big Money, Big Patronage
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has milked the popularity of the game like few others have. And even the numbers in the stadia, the television channels and the streaming services are huge. All this is good for the game and the players, but it also puts a fair amount of responsibility on everyone.
- Performance or Perish
- Big Money also means that if a certain player doesn’t perform, he will lose his place in the the team and eventually fade away. The fitness standards have to be in order and each player must give a hundred thousand percent. Remember there are at least 5-10 people vying for every position in the team.
The Indian team has performed superlatively through the entire World Cup, and it’s just the final where they couldn’t excel. Until the toss took place, they were said to be the finest in the business. The fact is that they still are, and in the final analysis playing second proved to be lucky for the Australian team.
Ravi Kumar is a Mumbai-based marketing and media consultant