This one is going to be controversial. The headline must
have indicated very clearly what I am going to write about. As part of my
maverick ways, what will follow is a discordant note. In India, there are only
two things on which you write a discordant note and stand the danger of being
controversial.
No, it is not Patriotism, Journalism or Politics. Only two
issues spur emotions which are at the core – Cricket and Religion. As I don’t
want to risk stone attacks and dharnas outside my home, I will refrain from
speaking on Religion. I will instead speak on the next big religion in India,
cricket.
First of all, let me give compliments where they are
deserved. Pranav Dhanawade of K.C.Gandhi high school, take a bow. Scoring 1009
runs unbeaten, is no joke. Whatever the quality of the opposition, and the size
of the ground, a thousand runs is a thousand runs. It is more than a test of
the cricketing ability. Ability decides, whether you score four runs or forty
runs. Temperament decides whether you score forties or convert forties to
hundreds.
For those of you who don't play cricket, scoring 1009 runs is
akin to running... say 4 marathons continuously.. say 100 miles. To score those
many runs, you need temperament, patience, focus and fitness. M.S. Dhoni has
written one very important thing, “I would have been bored.” One can get tired
and throw away the wicket, knowing that the job is done.
Now let me begin the real reason of this post. I think, his
coach needs to be sacked.
Long long ago, in my career, I got an award for an
‘individual’ contribution. The prize was a lunch with the Managing Director. I
was excited and looking forward to the same. On the day, my MD asked me about
my achievement and the award. I proudly talked about the scheme that I had
created. I was beautifully floating in a balloon of achievement that I had
created myself, only for the Managing Director to puncture it in one sentence
and bring me back down to earth. He asked me, “Was your scheme successful?” I had no answer. Actually the scheme was one
of the biggest failures of the organisation. I could have said, that “I had
created a great scheme, but the sales guys did not know how to sell it.” I
decided to swallow my ego and pride and keep quiet.
Today, ten years later I have understood the meaning of that
statement by the MD. It was one of my first lessons in teamwork. I wish I had
understood it earlier, I would have been a better corporate citizen.
Corporate India rewards Individual excellence over Team
Performance. Non- Performance is always externalised. I have seen teams which have performed extremely badly, but one person in the team getting a promotion for good individual work. Even as private citizens
Indian believe in cleanliness in their own house and don’t care about cleanliness in
the vicinity. What most Indians lack is 'Ownership'
At this juncture, another cricket match comes to mind –
October 1998, Australia vs. Pakistan in Peshawar, Pakistan. At the end of Day
2, Australia were 599 for 4, with Mark Taylor being unbeaten on 334. What is
the significance of 334? At that time, it was the highest score in a Test match
by any Australian, jointly shared by Mark Taylor and Don Bradman. Taylor had an
opportunity to bat for 15 minutes on the next day, and surpass Don Bradman, and
be the sole holder of the individual score. What do you think happened? Mark
Taylor himself was the captain, and declared the innings overnight, thus
denying himself the opportunity. It was a great example of putting the team
above self.
Something similar happened in March 2004 in Multan. The then
Indian captain declared the Indian innings at 675 with one Mr. Sachin Tendulkar
not out on 194. The next day the headlines were about how Tendulkar had been
robbed of a double hundred by his captain. Conspiracy theories started doing
the rounds, and not about a great strategic declaration by the captain.
A great opportunity was lost by the K.C. Gandhi coach by not
declaring overnight. We need to build team spirit and ensure team success than
individual success. 652 not out on Day 1, World Record achieved, team score at
956, what was the need to play on further? The additional 350+ runs scored by
Pranav have no value in my books, as they have not made any difference to the
team result. For the record the team won by and innings and 1382 runs.
A lot of people are known to say, I will give my best at
work. I disagree fundamentally with this statement. Please don’t give your best,
give your optimum. Confused? Let me explain.
If Usain Bolt plays soccer, and runs to the best of his
ability, what will happen? He will overrun the ball and will be a bad soccer
player. He needs to run at the speed of his teammates, to ensure that the team
succeeds, and only when he has the ball, he needs to run faster than the
opponents, at the same time controlling the ball. His best will actually be a
failure, his optimum a winner.
