Cricketers inspire the young generation to take up the game and be the champions of your kind. However, some cricketers step one mile ahead and their off-field stories gives some lessons that can inspire one and all.
5- Yuvraj Singh- Willpower and fightback
The man from Chandigarh emerged as the man of the tournament of 2011 World Cup and won the trophy for India with his impressive all-round show. However, the 38-year-old battled with stomach cancer and went through rigorous chemotherapy in United States and returned back to his country.
His smile said it all and made the day of every Indian cricket team fan. People thought that his career may be cut short but he made a thunderous comeback in the national side in 2012 and proved that everything can be achieved if one possess willpower and fightback to strike back.
4- Anil Kumble- Determination
In the Antigua test in 2002, Kumble was hit by Merv Dillon. He spat out blood but batted on for another 20 minutes. The series was leveled at 1-1 and this was the fourth test match of the series where India declared their innings on 513 for 9.
Kumble bowled 14 overs in the innings and picked the crucial wicket of Brian Lara. The test match was drawn but the determination shown by Kumble with a broken jaw was an influencing.
3- Virat Kohli- Turning anger and aggression into performance
Bowlers try to fire up the batsman by sledging them which create chances to fetch their wicket, but the case is different with Indian captain Virat Kohli. He channelize his aggression into the right work which gets him the desired result. Bowlers avoid provoking him which can get the best out of him.
2- MS Dhoni- Visualization
Suresh Raina revealed in an interview that MS Dhoni does not speak in the team meeting. Every night before the game, he visualizes about the bounce of the pitch, where should he place the fielders. This tactic help him guide the young forces like Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav which makes them a successful spin twin for the national team.
Most battles are won in the mind and visualizing about your future will make your way easy.
Taking risk
It is believed that Dhoni dropped some of the experienced players and opted to go for young talents who can save him more runs on the field. India was one of the most poorest fielding side when he took the captaincy but then he took the risk of dropping the veterans of the game and the fresh legs helped his cause.
The likes of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma proved more athletic on the field and set the benchmark for the others. As a result, India is one of the strongest fielding unit in present days.
1- Kane Williamson- Calmness and composure
When we hear about cool and composed, we think about MS Dhoni but then came the finals of 2019 World Cup and all of a sudden Kane Williamson redefined calmness and composure. The final over of the second innings was going New Zealand’s way with England requiring 9 runs off 3 balls, but then a twist came in the story. Ben Stokes guided the ball and completed two runs before the ball hit his bat and deflected to the boundary to give six runs to England.
Williamson could have reacted fiercely which would have made the team and the bowler- Trent Boult animated, but he didn’t say a word after umpire’s verdict. Boult conceded just two runs off the last two balls to take the game into the super over.
England scored 15 runs in the super over courtesy one boundary by Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. In reply, New Zealand scored 9 runs in starting two balls courtesy a wide, a double and a six by James Neesham.
Neesham scored five runs of next three deliveries by Jofra Archer which brought the equation to 2 off 1 ball. Martin Guptill whipped the ball in front of the deep square fielder- Jason Roy and hurried for the second run but eventually fell short.
After super-overs tie, England were adjudged the winner as they scored more boundaries than New Zealand in the course of 50 overs.
Despite all the buzz about the rules, Williamson was the most composed man on the field and his facial expression were as normal as it could be. He smiled even after losing the cup and that was priceless. “Gracious, even in defeat”
