It has been almost a week since India’s incredible win in the last test match in Brisbane, but the excitement refuses to die down. I have been following Indian cricket team passionately for the past 40+ years and this test series win in Australia was definitely one of our absolute best moments. It is up there or even better that Wadekar’s team’s series wins in West Indies and England in the early 1970s, Kapil’s Devils World Cup win in 1983, and Laxman & Dravid’s heroics in Kolkata in 2001.
The reason why this series win is so incredibly special is because rarely in cricket perhaps in across all sports has one team faced such a mountain of adversities and still come through to win. Series started in the worst possible fashion with a loss in Adelaide and with the team recording the lowest ever score in India’s test history, an unbelievable 36 all out. That must have been soul crushing enough but that was not all. The captain and the team’s most talismanic batsman had to go back from the tour on paternity leave. Then started a most bizarre sequence of injuries where the team lost the top six bowlers and two key batsmen. How do you even put up a playing eleven in such circumstances? On top of all of this, the team faced racial abuse by the crowds, constraints of Covid lockdown, and all this in a country where it is very difficult to win in at the best of times. They were facing a hi-quality team thirsting for revenge (after the previous series loss), with a world-class bowling attack at their peak consistently resorting to intimidatory, near “bodyline” bowling. How a young Indian team came from behind to win against all these odds is the stuff of legends, which will be discussed for long time to come.
I always find Sports to provide the most incredible lessons in life and in leadership. I have been reflecting for the past week on some of the management lessons from this magnificent test series win. Here are six that I would like to share with you:
- The Winning Attitude: Fearlessness + High Pain Tolerance + Bounce Back
The most endearing images of the series was the breathtaking and scarcely believable counterattack that Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant launched on the last day of the Brisbane Test. Fearlessly launching a push for victory, when conventional wisdom would have suggested protection and playing defense as the prudent strategy. This fearlessness is a hallmark of the New India, the Young India. Fearlessness is a key attitude required today in the business world, where being too defensive can often be a recipe for failure in a very fast-changing environment.While the young Indian team exhibited amazing fearlessness, it was accompanied in equal measure by another attitude, the ability to bear pain. Hanuma Vihari and Ashwin playing with severe injuries on the last day of the Sydney test to save the match. Or Pujara taking one body blow after another (was sickening to even watch!) on the last day of the Brisbane match. Without these heroic efforts, without this gutting it out through extreme pain over extended periods, India would have lost the series 3-1. This is an important management lesson. Whether you are in the early stages of building a business or you are trying to turnaround a business, you will face pain. Therefore, you need to develop a high tolerance for the same.The final piece of Indian team’s “Winning Attitude” was Bounce Back. I can only imagine what kind of blow 36 all out would have been for a team that had set very high standards for themselves. To bounce back from such a low and to win the next test match in Melbourne is simply remarkable. The narrative that I have read of both the Coach Ravi Shastri and the Captain Ajinkya Rahane is that they did not dwell too much on the Adelaide disaster and just got on with preparing for the next match. That is a great lesson. In business world today, it is inevitable that you will face failures at various stages. The ability to not let that effect you and to bounce back is a necessary attitude every professional needs to have. - Depth comes from Process + Structure
One of the most remarkable stories of the series and a key success factor was the seemingly infinite depth of the Indian squad. After every injury a new, young player would step up and just deliver. Young players like Shubhman Gill, Mohd Siraj, Washington Sundar, who all made their test debuts in this series played liked experienced professionals. Even the relatively unknown and unheralded T Natarajan, who was part of the test squad as a nets bowler, when given the opportunity showed a lot of composure. What explains this depth?This depth did not happen overnight. There was a process and structure behind it working for a number of years.Foundation was the Under 19 and India A apprenticeship structure put in place by the great Rahul Dravid. Under his guidance and mentoring, Indian’s U19 teams have reached a very high level of quality and professionalism. Most of the young stars were the product of that U19 process and structure. The depth was further nurtured by the IPL structure, which gave opportunities to domestic players to observe and compete with world-class players.This is such an important management lesson. Great success is never an accident nor is it instantaneous. If you want great success in future, you have to invest in the right processes & structure and groom talent from within well in time. - Leadership Model: The Warrior Monk
A lot of credit for the win should go to the captain Ajinkya Rahane. He was a stand-in skipper, was picking up the pieces after a debilitating defeat, faced a continual barrage of challenges, and yet delivered a historic victory. This was not a fluke. Ajinkya displayed some very deep and remarkable leadership attributes.He was calm, not very expressive and had a monk-like stillness about him. Instead, he let his bat do the talking, especially his innings in Melbourne. He did not get provoked by the many challenges both on and off the field. He demonstrated respect for the opposition (presenting Nathan Lyon a signed jersey for his 100thtest) despite such a hard-fought series. And celebrated the younger players consistently (inviting T Natarajan to hold the trophy).In him I see a Warrior Monk, very calm and anchored yet with a fierce determination and resolve for the right action. That is such an amazing inspiration and example for leaders in the complex business world we operate in today. - Role Models
I have mentioned the “Winning Attitude” earlier. This did not happen suddenly. Indian cricket has been fortunate to have generations of captains and key players who demonstrated a winning attitude, each building on the previous one and providing an even finer example. It started with Sourav Ganguly who brought self-confidence and expression. MS Dhoni built on it in his own unique way, bringing calmness but also fun while having the finishers drive. Virat Kohli might seem like all aggression. But he is lot more than that. He is world-class, highly intelligent and highly committed. In addition to these stellar captains, we have had the remarkable generation of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble, all of whom embodied quality, grit and commitment. And how can we forget the fearlessness and fun of Virender Sehwag.As discussed earlier in the point on Process and Structure, no success is overnight. Role Models have a critical role in inspiring and showing the way. - Need Balance: Youth + Experience
This series win is a celebration of New India, of the young stars like Rishabh Pant, Shubhman Gill, Mohd Siraj, the fearlessness and the spirit they bring. However, the series win could not have also happened with the experience of veterans like Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ashwin. That is another important management lesson, you need to build the right balance of youth and experience in the team/organization. Diversity and Inclusion, when done right can have a significant, positive impact for organizations – younger people bringing the drive for new ideas and innovation, while experienced ones know the business context, pitfalls etc. - Adversity can be an Opportunity
As I mentioned earlier, this test series win is remarkable and unique because it was in the face of an unbelievable mountain of adversities. I believe that these adversities were also a contributing factor in the team being able to raise its performance to such amazing levels. It brought the team even closer together, emphasized the team over individual brilliance, strengthened team’s resolve, presented opportunities to newer players, and forced them to apply new and more creative strategies.This is such an important lesson both in business and in life. Obstacles are inevitable. See them as an opportunity. If used well, adversities can become your biggest growth opportunity.
I am fascinated by how sports can provide us the most profound lessons. Thank You Indian Cricket team not just for bringing such amazing joy and pride to a billion Indians but also for these brilliant management lessons. May you keep shining and inspiring the world!!
All the best!!
