Life Lessons from Cricket

Catches win Matches: Life presents opportunities to all of us all the time. It's upon us whether we 'catch' them and make the most out of them, or dismiss them indifferently.

Imagine if you were handed an additional responsibility how would you look at it? For one it could be adding to your work-load and increasing work hours. For another, it could just be a great opportunity to increase one's professional value and learn something new in the process. It's upon us how we grab opportunities that come our way and not let them pass unnoticed.

Run-Rate principle: In ODIs, the team batting second always goes in with a required run-rate. Consistent scoring makes victory easier for the team while a slow approach makes the task very difficult towards the end. A mounting run-rate often causes the team to panic, make mistakes, lose wickets and even lose the game. Lesson to be learnt: Don't procrastinate. Postponing tasks for a later stage simply means your 'to-do' list is getting longer and sooner or later it'll result in stress. No matter how you feel, show up and get started.

Form is temporary, Class in permanent: We have seen the best names in cricketing history going through temporary lows in their career. Be it Tendulkar, Lara, Kapil Dev or Ponting, every star cricketer finds himself out of form once in a while. It is only a matter of time before they leap back into their form and return to their winning ways. Don't get rough-patches in life or business take a toll on your confidence. Remember it's just a passing phase.

Third-Umpire: We all make mistakes and learn in the process. The concept of third-umpire in cricket was introduced to eliminate human errors and ensure perfect verdict. Many a times in life, there are situations and challenges where we might not necessarily be in a position to take the best call. It is always better to take a second opinion from someone we can trust. In situations where you feel there's more than what meets the eye – never hesitate to reach out to the third umpire.

Field-Restrictions: The first few overs in ODI matches have field-restrictions, which means only 2 fielders are allowed outside the 30 yard circle. This is when most batsmen try to loft and score easy boundaries. This initial 15 over period also sees the maximum inflow of runs. Similarly in life everyone goes through 'peak periods'. These could be professional peak periods where you might be 'at your best', or favourably placed in a position with freedom & power, less competition etc. It could also be a new role you've taken on which allows you to start on a fresh note. Make the most out of these periods, because this is when you can channelize all your positive energies, skills and imagination for best results.