Tag Archives: Jadeja

Management Lessons from THALA (The Leader)

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In the classic IPL 2023 finals, 3 images have stayed with millions of cricket buffs and with me. Deepak Chahar drops a sitter with the classy and prolific Shubham Gill at just 3. Pan to MSD. A calm, stoic face and the game moves on; then Jadeja beats Gill as he lunges forward. Dhoni’s lightning fast reflexes are on show as he removes the bails in a flash (0.01 seconds). The bowler runs towards the wicket-keeper with eyebrows raised and the latter nods quietly. Yes, they have stumped the batter. It’s quite clear that Shubham Gill has been plotted out; as CSK are crowned champions Mahibhai is called to lift the trophy. But he has already invited Ambati Rayudu (who has announced his retirement)and Jadeja whose cameo hitting sealed the match on the last ball to join him on stage to receive the trophy. Then as the entire CSK contingent is celebrating we see the smiling captain at the back and corner.

The most impressive trait of the man is his unflappable temperament.  Ravi Shastri acknowledges this in his foreword to Bharat Sundaresan’s book, ‘The Dhoni Touch’, “Captain Cool may sound clichéd now but in many ways, it was an apt description as nothing could frazzle Dhoni. I have seen him remain steadfast and inscrutable as a monk in victory or in defeat.” The crucial lapse by Chahar could have rattled the team had their captain let out a stream of invectives and abuses. “But Thala is known to take the pressure off his players. He has always looked at the bigger picture in tight situations or even after a couple of defeats. Things will balance out in the longer run,” says Michael Hussey. In some of his interviews, Dhoni has revealed his mental resolve, “I feel frustrated. I feel angry at times. I feel disappointed. But none of these are constructive. What needs to be done is more important than any of these emotions.” His calmness both as India and CSK captain has soothed the nerves of the rest of the team and ensured that they stay focused and continue to believe in themselves. Not losing composure in stressful situations is the key to positive team spirit and sustainable success. Our Corporate Managers can take a leaf from MSD’s book. Business targets have morphed into targeting team members- especially down the line. The simple mantra is that a good work environment (dressing room culture) translates into good results.

Some Corporate leaders today tend to complicate things, by an overdose of reviews and meetings and analysis. Dhoni is not too invested in cricket data analytics. He relies more on his observation skills and his deep appreciation of every nuance of the game. THALA has a genius for keeping things simple. Everything is not within our control. “Control the controllable things and attend to the small details and address the ground realities. More often than not results will be in your favour. If you don’t get desired results, accept and work to improve,” from a Dhoni interview. In a company setup, the controllables are mobilizing the right resources, deputing people to the right assignments, defining their roles and giving them space to deliver, facilitating teamwork & co-ordination, selecting the right leaders + Training, Upskilling, Motivation, Appreciation, and having their backs when there are bad days at the office. It’s not surprising to know that MSD often has dinner with the younger members of the team to put them at ease and to jell with them.

This attribute of MSD of having faith in and backing his players is a recurrent theme. Spinner Yuzi Chahal who has experienced his best days under his captaincy says, “Newcomers or with 15-20 match experience-MSD backs you and trusts you. A couple of bad matches does not shake his faith in you.” It’s only a game that is an oft-quoted response from Dhoni after losing a match or even a series. Connect the dots to the high success ratio at both the international levels and also in the IPL tournament. Hence it is that you don’t see much chopping and changing of players in the Dhoni era as became the norm later. Merit more than loyalty mattered to him.

This sanguine, down-to-earth mindset of Dhoni is commended by Shastri, “even in the new set up with Kohli as captain and with many youngsters- his mature understanding of the players and dressing room dynamics – Dhoni morphed into a pillar, advisor, and mentor without intruding into team management space.” Mahi had even earlier proved that he was the master of quietly taking charge without rocking the boat. The Art of Managing Egos. Catapulted to captaincy ahead of several Indian cricket superstars and former captains, he took his time, didn’t interfere with their proven methods, and managed to extract the best performances from these legends and the upcoming stars without ruffling feathers. Lest we forget the 2007 T 20 WC winning team was completely raw and the current CSK team was at best, average on paper.

MS Dhoni is an enigma to many as he is an unorthodox leader and a unique personality. His art of taking ownership has many levels- Being in the Present; keeping it simple but looking to improve;  thinking about results only puts more pressure on the team, so focus on the process; keeping emotions under control is more constructive- anger and frustration lead to wrong decisions; don’t throw in the towel till the result is decided. Devon Conway (CSK opener) gives more insights in an interview with Harsha Bhogle, “MS gives us a role and backs us to do the role. He steps into their shoes as everybody reacts differently to pressure.” So it is little surprise that Thala’s pre-match meetings last only 10 mins but he has a sequence of one-to-ones. Also what he has to say in team meets is already known to seniors but helps to get the others on the same page. His simple take is- A captain is only as good as his team.

At the workplace also, team members reciprocate and feel a sense of belonging and responsibility based on the trust shown to them by the leader.

Leading from the front has been his hallmark. A corporate honcho has to herself/himself excel in one or more domains-Sales, Finance, HR, Operations, Technology or their leadership will always be in doubt. Delegation is good but one cannot be a non-playing captain. MSD has been at the top of his game as a wicketkeeper, a batter (at various slots), and a captain responsible for every action on the field. The innovative and effective helicopter shot is synonymous with him. He personifies genuine multi-tasking across various formats of the game and often raises the bar. This means living in the moment and in leading the charge in whatever the role demands. Not everything he has touched has turned into gold. But he has always appeared in total command on the field- not scurrying around to mitigate a difficult situation.

The Best Finisher accolade he has earned is well deserved for his utmost capability to lead from the front even as the asking rate appeared to be beyond reach. An astonishing stat is that he has scored 4,000 runs in a winning cause batting at No. 5 or lower.  In ODI’s power hitting came into vogue because of him. No score was considered safe if he was batting for India. His batting average in successful chases in the ODI’s is the highest for any player in history- an incredible 102.71. The six to finish off the 2011 WC final is etched in a nation’s consciousness and has become part of folklore.

With 294 Test dismissals, 444 ODI dismissals and 91 T20 dismissals MS Dhoni is in a league of his own- the Don with gloves on… But as wicketkeeper cum captain he morphs into a different avatar. The stump mic has caught him advising bowlers on what and where to bowl or talking about the batter’s mind frame. Yuzi Chahal certifies that the plans have worked more than 70%of the time over a few overs.

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. But the Thala halo also speaks of a brilliant cricketing mind. It has been said that he has the game all mapped out in his head. Amazingly, he is often on the right course. Shubham Gill was outwitted by the Dhoni-Jadeja combination in the IPL finale. But few may know that in the 2011 WC final a Dhoni-short of runs- promoted himself above the Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh in the batting order. His rationale- danger-man Muralitharan was bowling and he had played him often in the CSK nets. In the Champions Trophy of 2013 he asked Rohit Sharma to open with Shikhar Dhawan and a hundred partnership opened the floodgates to many more runs. The sharply observant Dhoni saw things that others overlooked.

Adam Gilchrist has commented about the MSD aura, “Sheer calm and confident body language evoked great respect and even fear in the opposition camp.” The ultimate tribute has come from the master himself-Sachin Tendulkar, “Calm, positive and always one step ahead of the opposition. The best captain I have played under.”

He has always shared credit with the team and taken the heat for the losses. The 2011 WC winning team photograph also shows him in a corner with other team members at the front and center. After this heady win, it was all downhill for Dhoni and the Men in Blue as they faced one embarrassing loss after another in the Test series in England and Australia. It took great strength of character to bounce back with the sheer weight of performance once again. His announcement to retire from Test cricket during the Australia series in 2014-15 speaks volumes about the man.  “90 Tests. The temptation to reach a milestone 100 is almost impossible to resist not to mention the power of captaincy. But he bid adieu as he believed he couldn’t give it his all,” comments Ravi Shastri.

MSD has always had the street-smart brain to cut through the clutter and reach a decision correctly. His technique both behind and in front of the stumps has been unconventional to say the least. He himself believes that millions connect with him as his cricket mirrors their gully cricket style. The sea of yellow at stadiums across India during the IPL is an unusual social phenomenon. It goes way beyond hero worship to a massive cult following. That this man from Jharkhand has been so warmly embraced by the people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu has a powerful message for our political netas. His respect for the people, their culture, and his humanity and simplicity, have made him their very own ICON.

In this era of omnipresent social media, this celebrity cricketer is totally missing from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He considers it a distraction and an addiction. In his own wry manner, he says, “Core job is to play well for India in cricket. If you do that there will be enough likes and enough followers.”

The incredible journey of this railway ticket collector from Ranchi to Chennai and beyond has not been without controversy. The CSK-RR match-fixing scandal and the banning of both teams from the IPL for two seasons must have scarred him badly. He has called it the lowest point in his life. The 2016 film, ‘MS Dhoni-the Untold Story’ produced by his friend Arun Pandey did not reveal anything. Mahi only spoke about it in the documentary ‘Roar of the Lions’ on Hotstar in 2019. Another cautionary tale is the conflict of interest issue with Rhiti Sports (where Dhoni had a 15% stake) also managing the careers and fortunes of his CSK team-mates- Raina, Jadeja, and Ojha.

The 2023 IPL final was heralded as MSD’s ‘Last Dance’ with the CSK team.  But the cricketing legend has now metamorphosed into a national emotion. After his recent knee surgery he will likely return to CSK in IPL 2024 as a captain for a few matches and as a Mentor for the team and franchise. The final hurrah will be played out at Chepauk.

Is the Indian Cricket Team on the Cusp of Greatness?

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(File image: Reuters)

After the miracle Down-Under and the wins against England at home, many pundits and fans have already anointed India as the champion cricket team. Ravi Shastri’s bombast adds to this somewhat pre-mature exuberance and celebrations. However, Ian Chappell’s recent observations brings a positive perspective and a lot of cheer and hope for the Indian cricket follower. “India have finally got the equation right and as long as they can avoid the pitfalls often associated with continuing success, they are better equipped than any other team to produce an era of dominance. The rest of the cricketing world.Beware!”

To be hailed amongst the all-time great teams India would need to show its class against quality opposition on their turf. And demonstrate supremacy on home soil. Really perform on the big occasions. Across the 3 formats- Tests, ODI’s, T20 cricket.

An objective look at our recent track record against the SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), shows that Indian cricket still has much to conquer. (0-1) Australia in 2015, (1-2) SA 17-18, (1-4) England 2018, (2-1) Australia 2018 and (0-2) New Zealand 2019-20. The Australian tour win be seen in the context of the host side shaken by the sandpaper-gate scandal and without their best batsmen Smith and Warner. Nine of our overseas Test wins have been against Sri Lanka (5) and the West Indies (4) languishing at the bottom of the table. Also take cognisance of our semi-final exits in the 2016 T 20 WC and the 2019 ODI WC.

The West Indies cricket team under Lloyd and Richards dominated cricket from the late 70’s till the end of the 80’s. They comprehensively won on all the Australia tours, only drawing the 1981-82 series (1-1). From 1976 onwards, they beat England in England decisively including a 5-0 blackwash in 1984. India, considered a difficult place to tour, lost (0-3) in 1983-84 followed by a (1-1) draw in 1987. Under Viv Richards they did not lose a Test series from 1984-91.

The Windies transformed themselves from a bunch of easy-going Calypso cricketers to a charismatic band of winners. Their sheer athleticism, ability to play exhilarating and attacking cricket, improvise and control the game changed cricket itself. The lethal pace quartet revolutionised the sport and the Caribbean impact was such that to this day cricket buffs can recall the names of all the players  in their squad and not just the marquee ones.The men in the maroon caps had also won the first 2 editions of the ODI WC in 1975 and 79 before losing to India in the memorable final in 83.

The Aussies under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting were world beaters for almost a decade. They won the ODI trophy in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Awesome!!! Championship titles in 2006 and 2009. Their record in the other SENA countries is impressive. Under Waugh they won 8 out of 9 Ashes Tests, losing only one. Also, he led them to 15 of their record 16 consecutive  victories. England beat Ponting’s XI in a thrilling 2005 Ashes series (2-1) but they exacted a 5-0 whitewash revenge at home in 2006- 07. The stamp of Aussie dominance can be gauged by the fact that Ponting is the only cricketer in history to be a part of 100 Test victories. The next 6 top players with most Test wins are all Australians who were intrinsic parts of the great teams of the late ‘90’s-2000’s.

This Aussie era was marked by ruthless efficiency and driven by cold-blooded scientific analysis and planning. Sledging also reached its peak as winning was everything. But other than Waugh and Ponting others like Gilchrist and Hayden and McGrath and Warne have also left huge shadows on the cricketing grounds.

A few interesting nuggets for Indian buffs. Waugh’s winning streak ended at the Eden Gardens on the classic tour of India in2001. (2-1 for india) The Aussies could not breach the Last Frontier. Ricky Ponting never won a Test match in India, played 7 and lost 5. But under his captaincy from 2005 to 2008 there was a second incredible show of dominance over 22 undefeated matches and 20 wins. India again played the Spoiler at Perth in one of Indian cricket’s most famous overseas wins.

2008-14 was the golden age of Spanish football.  Spain topped FIFA rankings for 6 years winning the UEFA Championships in 2008 & 2012 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The first team to win 3 consecutive world trophies. From 2010-13 they went undefeated for 29 games. And the Spanish team scored the highest maximum points for WC qualification- 30 out of 30. The star players were mainly drawn from Barcelona and Real Madrid, bitter rivals in the domestic La Liga. But they combined as a team at the national level with the Tiki Taka style of play of short, quick passes. Retaining possession of the ball, wearing down and opening up the opposing defence and then shifting gears. They took the game to another level with their precision, well-oiled football.

After watching ‘ The Last Dance’ on Netflix, the glorious story of the Chicago Bulls stays with you. The treble NBA championships from 1991-93 and an euphoric encore from 1996-98. Although the Bulls have become synonymous with Michael Jordan, it went beyond MJ. The coach, Phil Jackson, created a great team around MJ for the first hat-trick of trophies. When MJ came back from retirement he was moulded into the ultimate team player with the likes of Scottie Pippen, Rodman and Toni Kukoc playing critical and even game winning roles. The dissipation and fall of the team due to the whims and ego of a General Manager and a pliant owner is both poignant and educative. Great teams are very difficult to build. Once they happen and come together they find a life and synergy of their own.

Sunil Gavaskar believes that India has a great team. He comments, “A captain is always as good as his team and he has a terrific team under him. The full balance of the team has been fantastic. When you have something like that you will win more matches than you lose.” He continues about the “terrific opening batsmen, a very good middle order and a bowling attack which has most variety. A wicketkeeper who is very good and who can come down the order and pummel the bowlers.”

Indeed, the bench strength is deep and impressive. We have 2/3 more openers who can take on international attacks. There is strong competition for the middle order slots. A pool of good all-rounders led by Jadeja lends flexibility to the team. A fit and energetic fielding side- thanks to the example set by Kohli and the demands of the IPL. A potent fast bowling battery plus an array of good spinners to choose from. And the dashing Pant has to keep improving as he has Samson, Rahul, Karthick, Saha breathing down his neck to don the gloves. Indian cricket has never had it so good, verily, a plethora of resources.

Behind the scenes, Indian cricket owes a debt of gratitude to Rahul Dravid. Whether at the Cricket Academy or at the U-19 level, the break-out youngsters have been groomed and mentored by this cricketing legend. Young, raw talents have blossomed like never before.

The X factor to make Indian cricket the force that it is- is the fast bowling arsenal. We have at least a dozen bowlers in domestic cricket who can bowl at 140 kmph plus consistently and make the batsman hop and duck. A far cry from the days of Saeed Ahmed Hatteea (a Bombay quick) who was advised by shaken batsmen to cut down on his speed so that he would not burn himself out.

Bharat Arun, our bowling coach, believes that’ over the last 2-3 years Indian pacers have mastered the art of bowling fast, pushing for speeds of over 140 kmph. They have become fast and lethal and most importantly consistent in maintaining fitness which is a crucial issue for speedsters. Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Yadav and Bhuvi have troubled batsmen in international cricket irrespective of playing conditions. They have hugely influenced Team India’s success to become a top-ranked nation in cricket.’

The only other ingredient for continuing success is team spirit and the hunger for wins. As shown by the Windies teams of the 80’s, the Aussies under Waugh and Ponting, the Bulls era in the 90’s and the golden period of Spanish football. The fairy-tale victory Down Under by Rahane’s depleted team have many lessons to take forward. About getting all players on board, playing to their best potential and at times even out of their skins.  Team Spirit adds an extra dimension of its own to team performance. Capt Kohli should reach out and tap into the cricketing brains of Sharma, Ashwin, Rahane and Bumrah in both strategizing for and reading the game.

2021 may well be the watershed year for Indian cricket if events unfold as per schedule. First, the World Test Championships at Lords vs New Zealand on the 18th June 2021. Followed by a gruelling 5Tests tour of England. To cap it all, the World T 20 tournament at home from Oct this year. If the Men in Blue win the Lord’s contest, have a good English tour and lift the T 20 cup, then they are on their way to the Hall of Fame. And we will be ushered into an exciting and enchanting Era of Indian cricket.