ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is in full throttle and Indian fans are full of hopes, what with our Cricket team having had a brilliant run with only one loss in its kitty so far.Despite the game’s immense popularity in the subcontinent, very few actually ponder over aspects of the game that can turn out to be invaluable management lessons. So, we decided to put together fivelessons we learnt from some of the mosticonic World Cup moments. Take a look.
- Lead from the front
The quality that differentiates a great leader from a good leader is the ability to lead from the front and take calculated risks. A glowing example is the 2011 World Cup final, when an out-of-form MS Dhoni, the then Indian team skipper, came down to bat at number 3 ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh. While spectators and experts were left puzzled, no one could have predicted the kind of game-changing innings MSD played in that match, which eventually led India to its first World Cup win after 28 years!
This is what great leaders are made of – they are willing to take calculated risks and lead from the front even in difficult circumstances.
- Build on your strengths
While it is crucial to identify and work on areas of improvement, it is equally important to not lose sight of your core strengths, despitewhat conventional wisdom suggests. A case in point is the 1996 World Cup finale when the then Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, went against the conventional wisdom of batting first.
If the trends of the past five World Cup finals were to be believed, teams that batted first had invariably emerged as the champions. However, Ranatunga knew that his team’s strength lay in chasing rather than defending scores. His decision to play to the team’s strength coupled with his courage to challenge the conventional approach led the team to its maiden World Cup victory.
- Learn to work without your best resources
While it is natural for any manager to depend on their best resources, there can be circumstances when your best resource may be unavailable. Great leaders know how to cope up with unavoidable harsh conditions and still emerge victorious.
A good example would be the 2003 World Cup, when Australia had to play without its star player and, arguably, the best leg-spinner in the world, Shane Warne. The media was quick to write off the entire team even before the first ball of the tournament had been bowled. However, the Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting, was unruffled and went about his way to lead the team to a spellbinding World Cup win.
- Keep personal adversity separate from professional work
It is quite natural for most of us to succumb to adversities in personal life and let them affect the quality of our professional work. However, great leaders have an uncanny ability to isolate both the aspects and bring out the best in them and their team.
A famous example is the 1999 World Cup at England when Sachin Tendulkar got the news of his father’s demise. He made time to attend the funeral but was back before his next match where he scored an unbeaten 140. Such was his resolve to perform in the face of adversity. That moment when he looked to the heavens, dedicating his century to his late father left the entire gallery in tears.
- Encourage multi-skilling
It is always good to have people in the team who can do more than what has been assigned to them or is expected of them. Such people are called “all-rounders” in cricketing parlance.
Had it not been for Yuvraj Singh’s exceptional skills with both,batting and bowling during the 2011 World Cup, India’s grand World Cup victory could have been a farfetched dream. Similarly, Mohinder Amarnath’s wizardry with the bat and the ball contributed to the team’s victory in the 1983 World Cup in a big way.
Conclusion
Cricket, like every other sport, has a lot of valuable lessons to offer, which can help us lead the way in our own professional lives. Whether it is a game of cricket or a typical day at work, the ability to think on your toes while abiding by your core values can make all the difference.