Life Lessons from World Cup Cricket 2023: Beyond the Runs

Indian team played like a true champion throughout the tournament though the team could not win the Cup. Only match they lost is the crux final match. Why am I saying that Team India played like champions?

1. Team Spirit – Team spirit is the biggest improvement and difference with this team. It could be seen in all the matches that the team played literally as a team. The players were seen to be supporting each other whenever required. All the players settled to their roles nicely.
2. Performance mattered – There is a healthy competition for getting picked up for the playing 11. Even a world class bowler like Shami had to wait to get picked up for the playing 11.
3. Body Language – Indian team’s body language was aggressive but not arrogant. Right mix.

Nobody believed that the underdogs Afghanistan could rise to the level of missing semi-final qualification by a whisker and in that process give jitters to more experienced teams including Pakistan and Australia. But for the inexperience displayed when facing the determined Glenn Maxwell, Afghanistan would have got qualified for their first ever semi-final appearance.

Experience and other’s opinion about your ability do not matter. They are only for books. What matters most is your confidence and the commitment to perform.

Team Australia dominates all forms of cricket still because of their mental toughness, ability to bounce back. They continued that reputation in this World Cup as well. There were doubts if they will qualify for the semi-finals after they lost the first two games. But the team did not lose their confidence and determination eventually becoming the true champion. They were about to lose their qualifier against the minnows Afghanistan when they were reduced to 91/7 needing 292 to win. There were heartbreaks even in their semi-final against South Africa. But they handled the pressure situations well and bounced back from tough situations to create history.

Who are the best players in this World Cup? My list has different perspective and not runs, wickets & catches, best learnings. My shortlist for the best players in the tournament goes to the following:

Rohit Sharma undoubtedly is the best of all in my opinion. He is not the highest run taker, scored only one century and three fifties. If there is any award for ‘Best contribution to the team’, Rohit Sharma would win that award hands down. He is in great form and could have aimed for the coveted award of ‘most runs’, instead he decided to play for the team.

A sixth-ball duck against Australia in the opener in Chennai was no more than a false alarm for Rohit Sharma. He took that duck in his strides to eventually break the record of ‘most number of sixes’.

It takes a certain confidence, a certain courage of conviction, a certain self-belief, to commit to a cause. The cause Rohit Sharma decided to take is laying strong foundation in the first powerplay so that rest of the team can build the innings from there. It takes strength of character and the passion to rise above and beyond the call of duty to stick to that commitment. Rohit proved his passion and commitment by playing the same natural style even when he was on the verge of his 50 or 100. Even in the tense final match, Rohit Sharma tried a six when he was very close to his fourth fifty and lost his wicket to an astonishing catch by Travis Head. He got into the 40s five times without kicking on, he twice entered the 80s getting out before taking it to a century. Truer assessment is that he hasn’t looked for individual milestones because of his commitment to the attacking brand of cricket that he has outlined for his team and that he wants to espouse through example.

Apart from his contribution to the team as a swashbuckling opener, Rohit took it upon himself to lead his team’s charge in every sense of the term. He played the role of the enforcer with such aplomb that he has made life easier for the rest of the batsmen.

Rohit played like an excellent captain as well. He is more emotional on the field than Dhoni but remains calm. Actively consults with the teammates. Listens to the teammates before taking crucial decisions. Consults with the wicket keeper Rahul and the bowler before taking review decisions. Encourages the team when the chips are down. Rohit earned the respect of everyone in the team. That is Leading from the front.

It is not an ordinary feat for a man who did not make the cut for the first four matches to become the ‘best bowler’ of the tournament. Shami did not sulk but waited for the right opportunity and proved his point when the opportunity came silencing his critics. Multiple times in his career, not just this time. This started even when he was making debut in first class cricket. Rewind to 2010-11.

Bengal’s then coach WV Raman fought tooth-and-nail and brought Shami to the playing eleven ahead of some seniors. Shami was down with fever on the eve of the match and was doubtful but he did not want to miss the chance. Luckily, Shami need not play for the first two days as Bengal was batting first, He could not play for the first session of third day due to illness. Shami came to bowl in the third session and bowled exceedingly well cementing his place in the team. Shami showed 102 degrees during the play and went for a blood test after taking three wickets and was diagnosed with dengue. He knew that it was a ‘do or die’ battle for him literally but showed his mettle of ‘not ready to take the backward step’.  He played giving his heart out for India in 2015 World Cup despite playing with a niggle. He missed precious matches in his career because of his injuries but he never gave up.

Shami dropped a sitter offered by Kane Williamson of Bumrah but that failure did not deter him from taking overall tally of 7 wickets in that semi-final against New Zealand.

KL Rahul has taken the role of crisis manager multiple times in this tournament. He was consistent with the bat scoring 50+ runs whenever required for Team India. His commitment to excellent performance as a wicket-keeper even after playing a long and tiring innings as a batsman is outstanding.

Pat Cummins is not a swashbuckling batter, but he ensured that he was part of the finishing pair twice in this tournament, both times taking Australia to victory from the brink of defeat. His leadership skills in giving the confidence to the team and in taking the team from two successive defeats to the final is noteworthy.