Friday, July 12, 2019

7 CEO Lessons from the India-New Zealand semi-final match


India lost the semi-final match to New Zealand. It shouldn’t have happened in the normal course, and there are some great management lessons from the game for us, which I share hereunder:

a. Over-dependence on a few critical resources

The Indian cricket team has so far been led well by the top order. Together, Rohit, Rahul, Kohli & Shikhar had always set the team’s pace while batting and scored big to not just set up big totals for the opposition to chase, but also to ensure that any total faced by India was chase-able. When it came to the semi-final, it was a classic failure, where, for the first very time in India’s history, the top 3 batsmen departed scoring a single run each. When the big 3 fell so early, the otherwise small chase became daunting, and our middle order couldn’t cross the total.

b. Inadequate fallback options

The renowned, but unsteady, middle order of the most-feared batting unit in the world collapsed when it needed to perform the most. Pant, Karthik and Pandya all added a little bit to the total but their cautious (much needed at that time) approach made the required run rate go out of hand slowly and steadily. By the time Dhoni came out to bat, we were already reeling at 92/6 in 30.3 overs – a really sad total even by test standards. However, all was not lost, as the required run rate was 7.6 for the remaining 19.3 overs. Could have been chased had we enough wickets in hand.

c.Wrong utilization of resources

When in doubt, go with your instinct, goes the saying. Predictably, that’s what the Indian team did in sending Karthik and Pandya ahead of Dhoni. What we needed after the departure of Virat was the calming influence of Dhoni. We decided, instead, to go with our younger go-getters, in the hope (definitely not in the belief) that they would not just stabilize the innings but keep scoring at a decent enough rate for Dhoni to come out later and finish the game with aplomb as he usually does. Sadly, we left too much for too late for Dhoni to turn things around.

d. Reliance on historical data ignoring current evidence

Dhoni… Dhoni… Dhoni… that’s what the stadium chanted as the captain cool walked in to bat. Dhoni fans continued to believe in his super-human abilities to turn around our fortunes at any stage. Little did the team management or the fans recognize that the Dhoni of this World Cup is a far cry from his usual self. His work behind the stumps has been wanting and his scoring rate throughout the tournament has been meagre. His past glory, not his present form, made him a part of the team, and his poor form cost us when we hoped that he’d sail us through.

e. Playing favourites in resource planning

The question of who to take to the World Cup to who to play in the final 11 has haunted us right through the tournament. The fact that Rayadu was ignored in favour of 3D skills of Vijay Shankar, the fact that when the need arose to replace Shikhar, Vijay was played ahead of Rishabh despite Pant being called in as Dhawan’s replacement, the fact that Pant wasn’t originally taken to England because selectors and the captain wanted Dhoni in the team, all went on to ensure that favourites did not live up to their reputation and the worthy team members weren’t allowed to.

f. Paying the price for procrastination

Nothing demonstrates this better than the semi-final wherein Dhoni – despite having an able partner in Jadeja who was scoring at a brisk rate to try and not only cover the deficit but win the match – chose to play the waiting game scoring at an abysmal rate akin to the India vs England match (which also was lost largely because of painfully slow scoring rate), in the self-belief that he can play it slow for now as he has the ability to accelerate at will and win in the dying minutes of the match, as he normally does. We set ourselves for failure and got the only possible result.

g. Underestimation of the challenges and unpreparedness

The New Zealand team, since time immemorial, has been a bits-n-pieces players team mostly. Sometimes, they have had great batsmen, great bowlers, great wicket-keepers and great fielders who have been the world’s best but, quite frankly, New Zealand has been “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” kind of team, who everyone is worried about but nobody really fears. India, in their supreme confidence, underestimated the strategic readiness & fierce determination of the underdog and ended up playing the ultimate price.

As is evident from the above, the importance of well-thought strategy, detailed planning and actual performance cannot be undermined ever, whether it is a cricket match or a corporate decision-making situation. Whether it is about choosing absolutely the right resources for a particular job, or about quick course-correction should things go wrong, a manager has to take quick and bold decisions in the interest of the company goal rather than basing them on what others would like or what he/she prefers. The above 7 are the few basic things that every CEO, Department Head and Manager should always keep in mind while planning growth of the organization.

© Shailesh Nigam

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Pool B of the World Cup is demonstrating that Cricket is indeed a game of glorious uncertainties

It's an intriguing situation in Pool B in the World Cup. India have already finished at the top, and are already in the quarter finals, irrespective of how they fare in their last match against Zimbabwe.

South Africa now play UAE on the 12th March, and a win will assure them a place in the quarter-finals. However, we all know how fickle they can be right at the most crucial time and squander an opportunity. Even if South Africa lose to UAE, they'd probably qualify, despite remaining at 6 points, which is equal to what Pakistan and Ireland have right now.

Pakistan & Ireland play their last match against one another and only two outcomes can happen - either, one of them will beat the other and get 8 points and qualify, or, the match will be rained out and both will get 1 point each and will settle at 7 points each, and both will qualify in that situation.

But let us consider the following situation - South Africa actually lose to UAE, and on the 15th March, West Indies beats UAE to also reach 6 points. That will leave India as the only nation that goes through clearly from Pool B, before the match between Pakistan and Ireland is decided later the same day. This will leave 4 teams on 6 points before that match - South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland, and who goes through will finally be dependent on the Pakistan-Ireland match alone. Assuming, the Pakistan-Ireland match will have a result, the winner will go through leaving the other 3 teams to slug it out for the remaining 2 slots on their net run rate.

Technically, the Pakistan-Ireland tie is now a pre-quarter-final of sorts between them, but many other teams will be watching the match with bated breath, while chewing on their nails. If Ireland beat Pakistan to go through, it will be a huge upset - on the same lines as Pool A where yesterday Bangladesh pipped England to finish their world cup dream. This would mean that two strong test-playing nations would be ousted in the very first round by two minnows!

Cricket, as they say, is indeed a game of glorious uncertainties.

© Shailesh Nigam

Monday, February 16, 2015

Ireland - the giant killers arrive in style

Two different days, two different tales. While India crushed Pakistan in what was expected to be close contest yesterday, the story of the World Cup Tournament so far is not about the biggest rivalry in cricket. Today, a new page was turned in the book of cricket when unfancied Ireland chased a huge 300+ target with exceptional ease and over 4 overs to spare against 2 times world champions and one of the tournament favourites, West Indies.

Pool B - to which all these 4 teams belong - was supposed to have thrown up natural semi-finalists, India, South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies. Zimbabwe, UAE and Ireland were supposed to go down without even a fight. Ireland proved today that it is not so easy to write them off so soon. Even in the last world cup - with the O'Brien brothers leading their charge - they had announced their arrival on the world stage with aplomb. Today, they took their credibility many notches higher.

West Indies would've surely assumed that they had the match in their pocket after scoring 304. However, a great top order batting performance by Ireland made world class bowlers like Roach, Taylor, and company look totally pedestrian, and Ireland romped home with 4 wickets and 4 overs to spare. This was not just a win, it was a humiliating victory beyond comprehension.

Reminds me of 1983 when Kapil's Devils showed to the world that cricket can produce Davids who will not only take on Goliaths but also conquer them.

A look at the scorecard is telling. Chris Gayle - arguably the biggest hitter in world cricket - took took 65 balls to score a measly 36. Normally, he would had taken 36 balls to score 65! When he fell, West Indies were just 78 in 21.2 overs. Another 2 wickets meant that Windies had lost half their side for just 87. It was Simmons and Sammy who stood their ground and finally made a match of it.

Ireland chased it down without any hiccups, in the process making it one of the five successful chases of 300 in all World Cups. And... for those who didn't know, 3 of these 5 chases are by Ireland - 2 against test playing nations. Guess, it is the season of small guys winning against mighty giants!

© Shailesh Nigam

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Chosen One - a conspiracy revealed (by Varun Khanna)


The early eighties were probably the watershed years for Indian cricket. The young hurricane from Haryana had led the country to the first ever world cup victory over mighty West Indies. Some say that it was a fluke… a beautiful coincidence, perhaps! Or so it was proved by the thrashing from Clive’s eleven in a home series immediately after the Prudential Cup was paraded and then placed on a mantle post the ceremonies. Fluke or deserving, but that victory created a brand new breed of followers of the game in India. The world championship series win in Australia following that only added the fuel to the fire as the enthusiasts signed up at a record pace. There was an audience being created… a huge audience… which discovered the joy of watching the game of cricket - demanding their team to do well.  Purely in economic theory terms, the demand was rising yet the supply of winning moments was only diminishing. The stalwarts of the Indian cricket… the Gavaskars, Vengsarkars, Srikants and Amarnaths were reaching the end of their career. Regardless of this, the size of the market and demand of cricketing glory continued to grow and the gap between demand and supply continued to get wider.

There were signs and surely the angels covering the game must have noticed this well in advance, because they had already got into action. The harvests in the grounds of Shivaji Park and Azad Maidan had provided best crop of cricketing talent in the past. The chosen one had arrived on the same fields and was now in his teens, thrashing bowlers and records already. Riding pillion with his coach and mentor, he was moving from ground to ground, announcing himself to the world. He was to be called and he was called at the age of 16 years and 205 days… to don the India cap and start his career from arguably the most hostile terrain in the whole world for an Indian cricketer. The year was 1989 and the world of cricket changed after that. For next 24 years, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ruled the hearts and minds of the ever growing lovers of game both in India and abroad.

Twenty four years is a lot of time in which a lot can happen… and lot did happen. The stocks of the game rose to dizzying heights. Almost as if it was the part of the some script, liberalization and opening up of media in early 90s came with immaculate timing. Viewership, sponsorship, advertisement, contracts - the world was converging to Sachin’s brand of cricket. People thronged to see their favourite, the son of the soil bat and Sachin didn’t disappoint them. He seemed to have bought the ownership rights of those 22 yards that matter on cricket grounds across the world and he was serving delectably sumptuous portions which left his admirers with filled stomachs yet craving for more. On the way records were shattered, unprecedented heights were claimed. A short boy with curly hair from Mumbai, had become the God of Cricket. The cricket was shining and the angels were smiling on a job well done! It was working as a dream till the time came for the God to retire...

But Gods do not retire… so how could the God of cricket announce his retirement?

The truth had to come out in open. On that fateful afternoon on 16th November, 2013 it was none other than Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - the chosen one, who revealed in his speech the fact that his success was a conspiracy. Conspiracy? Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The greatness of the level that Sachin Tendulkar achieved does not happen in isolation. It takes entire universe to conspire to make it happen. And in a manner which he spilled the beans, brought lumps in the throats and tears in the eyes of those who saw and heard the truth come out. Only that this time, the lumps and tears were of joy! (Full text of Sachin Tendulkar's farewell speech at Wankhede stadium).


One of the very first co-conspirators was Ramesh Tendulkar, his father. Most of us who are of same age group as Sachin would recall that during that period in mid eighties, there were indeed very few fathers who would have given their child ‘freedom’ to go and chase their dreams. Probably a teacher and a writer could have been the only one to take that call and instill the values that shaped his demeanor on and off the field and ultimately made him what he became to the people across the world. Second one on Sachin’s list on his speech was his mother. A mother, who prayed for him, took care of his well being and made sacrifices throughout his career. Was it then, only a coincidence that Sachin had to be born to parents like that?

He mentioned his three siblings – three more co-conspirators. His eldest brother, Nitin and his sister Savita and their families, who believed in him right from the beginning and were at his side throughout the ups and downs. In fact it was his sister Savita, who presented him with his first Kashmir Willow cricket bat. Then it was Ajit, his other brother - the co-dreamer - someone who spotted the spark and took him to Achrekar Sir… someone who sacrificed his own career and spent his life time being his guide and mentor on techniques. What would have happened if that kind of sibling support and care was not made available to him? Well, as per him, he would have been a ‘lesser cricketer’ without them.

Further in his speech, he brings out three more co-conspirators. His wife Anjali with whom he had the best partnership. A paediatrician by profession, who gave up her career to allow him to continue to give joy and pride to his countrymen.  Now, many in support of women equality may not like this and it just goes on to highlight the invaluable sacrifice that young woman made so that her husband, who she knew (as told by her in a interview) belonged first to his cricket, his nation, and then to her. He spoke about his kids – his two diamonds who were now in their teens and seem to have grown up almost behind him – the times they would have missed their father in a school function or when some accolades were bestowed upon them. His immediate family were conspiring through their sacrifices as well.

He spoke touchingly about his friends, old ones from his early playing days and the new ones he made over the years. He thanked them for being there with him 24 x 7, keeping their own work aside - whether it was to bowl to him in nets, joining him on a holiday or just to be there when he was surrounded by self doubt. Such friends are rare and a treasure, was he just plain lucky to have such friends or was someone had strategized it from heavens?

He spoke respectfully about his coach and mentor, Achrekar Sir, who is yet to say “well played” to him, only to ensure that he continues to strive and lift his game, no matter what he has already achieved. What are the odds for one to find a ‘Guru’, who not only gives you knowledge, but also keeps that fire in you burning that pushes you to learn even more than what he can teach you?

He spoke warmly about his fellow cricketers. He acknowledged his seniors and heroes who inspired him. Importance of role models in one’s life cannot be undermined. They are the reason for your first step towards pursuing greatness. Then he spoke about his team-mates who played alongside him. There was a long time in his initial career when he carried the weight of the nation’s expectations alone on his shoulders before Sourav, Rahul, Anil and VVS came by to share the load giving him opportunity to play his cricket fearlessly. If it wasn’t for these stalwarts, surely his shoulders would have tired sooner and not provided him space to achieve the pinnacle that he achieved. He encouragingly mentioned the young turks who are shaping the continued success of Indian cricket as he reminded them that they are the best of the best and extremely gifted so as to represent their country. He stands as a living example to them and many who will join the game in future, of what comes back to you when you play your game with right spirit and best of your ability, both on and off the field.

In his humility, he mentioned the support staff – the doctors, physios and trainers who managed his body for him and for teaching him how to respect it. You certainly cannot play nonstop at this level for so many years without this support and knowledge. They were rightfully the co-conspirators in his success.

He did not forget to mention his management team and specially his good friends Vinod Naydu and first manager Mark Mascarenhas. These are the people who would have benefited most from maximizing the returns from brand Sachin Tendulkar, yet they set aside their own vested interests to ensure he was left alone when it mattered. The famous incident when Sachin refused to act in a cola commercial in a way that shows him to be bigger than the game or his refusal to do any promotion for liquor and tobacco products despite being offered a fortune, were no short of a nightmare to manage. Yet they did it with an understanding of the man they were managing and the weight of expectations that he was carrying. They were the people who made him financially secure and allowed him to express himself the way he wanted, both on and off the field.

And then he spoke about the people he played for – his countrymen and supporters who egged him relentlessly whenever he came out to play. He thanked them for their unrelenting support for such a long period. People, who had prayed and fasted, shaved their heads in support and with courage stood up against any criticism that was unnecessarily imposed on him. What would be a deity without his devotees?

And finally, after his speech he walked up to one of the main conspirators, the twenty two yards in the middle of the cricket ground. He touched it reverently in gratitude. It was his ‘karma-bhoomi’, which was a teacher, facilitator, witness and a partner all at the same time in his journey and the success.

Sachin’s final speech moved heart and minds of all kinds of people – sportsmen, skeptics, fans, followers and critics alike. The speech was nothing but revelation of the conspiracy that the universe hatched to bring to the game of cricket the enigma of Sachin Tendulkar. However he (understandably so) did not mention at all the biggest contributor of this conspiracy. None of it all would have translated into anything if it wasn’t for that one person called Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

One of the basic laws of physics is that if there is no action, there will be no reaction. None of this guidance, support, sacrifices, devotion and friendship would have come to him if he had not sought for it, if he had not had the burning desire and courage to chase his dream. While it is a fact that a lot of things had to fall in place in life of Sachin Tendulkar for him to reach the ultimate heights, it is also true that most important ingredient in the formula for success (if ever there is a formula) is the impact of the choices you make in pursuit of success. Credit completely and deservingly goes to him for making right choices of people, approach and attitude. As guided by his father, he did not take short cuts and chose to continuously harness his natural talent through hard work, devotion and discipline.

It is the karmic principle that your own karma decides the results you get - and if you put everything behind what you desire, the entire universe conspires to bring it to you!

Thank you, Sachin - for the cricket and teaching the world what it takes to get what you want!

© Varun Khanna