The Cricket of Life

May be because I’m an Indian but I see cricket as a game that represents life the best. No matter what happens, every situation in life is so amazingly depicted in the rules, situations and strategies of this game.

Just imagine yourself as the captain of a team. Your goal is to win the game at any cost. For this purpose you pick players. You pick players according to the weather conditions, pitch, team you are playing against and your strategy.

Suppose you have batsman like Sachin Tendulkar on your side, you put your trust in him to score. You trust him and expect him to make runs for you. In your strategy that precise is his role. You have a bowler like Anil Kumble. You put your trust in him to take wickets for you. That is his role.

Sachin may get out on the first ball, Kumble may be hit for sixers over after over. You never know who will work, who will fail. You may win or lose the game because of it, but whatever the result, as a captain of the team, you are responsible for the result.

Sometimes your best players may be sold out. They may fix the match against you, turn their backs to you and yet, you will be responsible for the result. You can’t cite their unfaithfulness as a reason for your loss.

Just imagine a situation:

You’re sitting in the dressing room while your best players are getting out one by one. They’re coming to the dressing room with their heads bowed in shame while your strategy, your game, your goal is going for a toss. Or another situation, you’re on the field and all of your bowlers are being taken for a ride.

At such times, there’s no use getting angry at these players of yours. Their part in your game is over. They are out of your strategy and plan of action. The question in front of you at such times is, “What can I do now?” And not “How could these players be such big fools?” or “How could this X fool forget his basics? Is he cheating? Has he sold himself out?”

There is no use of asking the later questions. If you have an answer to the first question only then you can win the game. Because your goal is not to teach cricket to your players, your job is to use their skills to win your game; not to instill values among them.

One thing you must always remember: You can’t play without others. You’ll have to trust them but you can’t and shouldn’t depend on them. Ultimately, it’s your game, your win and your loss.

Play your game with players. Don’t let players play your game.

The Happy Prince.