Life & Cricket

Embracing Life's Lessons: From the Cricket Pitch to the Tech World (and Beyond!)

Welcome to the first installment of my life's playbook! In this series, I'll be sharing the hard-won wisdom and unexpected insights I've gathered along the way. Unlike those who find inspiration in books or YouTube tutorials, my early education came from real-world experiences: failures, admiration for others, and a lifelong love of sports. Could I have done some things differently? Absolutely. But those missteps have shaped who I am today, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. After all, it's the messy, unpredictable journey that makes life so exhilarating, right?

Growing up in India with a brother meant one thing: cricket was king. Countless hours were spent glued to the TV, watching India play in Test matches, ODIs, and T20s. Little did I know that the lessons learned on the pitch would translate into valuable life skills. From playing in Seattle's ARCL to navigating the tech industry, I've discovered that the principles of cricket—teamwork, adaptability, resilience—can unlock our full potential in any field.

Think about it: Cricket isn't just about batting, bowling, or fielding. It's about collaborating with your teammates, trusting their instincts, and having their back. It's a dynamic dance of individual skill and collective effort, much like life itself. That's why I believe the lessons of cricket hold the key to personal and professional success.

So, join me as I share the fascinating parallels between the cricket pitch and the game of life. Be ready to discover how the strategies, mindsets, and unexpected twists of this beloved sport can empower you to hit your own personal sixes!

The Work Week: A Test Match of Productivity and Growth

Just as a thrilling Test cricket match unfolds over five days, our work week presents a similar rhythm. We navigate multiple sessions, each focused on specific tasks, with well-deserved breaks for lunch and tea. Both arenas demand a blend of technical expertise, interpersonal finesse, and unwavering mental resilience.

Winning the Work Week: Lessons from the Cricket Pitch

A triumphant work week, like a victorious Test match, emerges from strategic planning and adaptation. We use dedicated sessions to assess our "wicket" (challenges and opportunities), apply learnings, and make steady progress. We collaborate with our "teammates" (colleagues), allowing each other to lead, rest, and contribute unique strengths.

Embracing the Ups and Downs: A Balanced Approach

Like a Test match with its share of highs and lows, our work week experiences fluctuations in productivity. Some days we excel, while others serve as valuable learning experiences. We embrace breaks, recharge, and return with renewed focus.

The End Goal: Sustainable Success and Personal Growth

Ultimately, both the Test match and the work week require patience, trust in the process, and a willingness to move forward. By sustaining our efforts, adapting to challenges, and embracing the journey, we pave the way for lasting success and continuous personal development.

Transformational values from Cricket - How the Game of Life mirrors the Pitch

Makes us humble: You can score a century one day and get a duck the next. You can take a wicket with one ball and get hit for six with the next. Everytime this happens it makes you more humble, success is temporary so is failure. Realizing that will bring us close to life appreciating what we have and bouncing back from setbacks with grace. Leading life with humility is what life teaches us.

Learning to stay in the present: Sports remind us to stay in the present. If we think about that missed catch or shot, we will lose the opportunity that's coming next and lead to more misses. The goal is to give your best to the current ball or moment, taking life one ball at a time. This "one ball (moment) at a time" mentality translates beautifully into our daily lives, reminding us to savor the present moment and tackle challenges as they arise. This is also the best way to live because all we have is now, the future is imaginative and the past is a memory.

Believing in yourself: When you self doubt that will I be able to take that catch, will I be able to hit the ball over the boundary, we stumble to make good judgment and lose presence of mind. Yet, the game teaches us the importance of trusting our abilities, even when the odds seem stacked against us because that's the only way we can give our best without any regrets. Because without self-belief hard work is meaningless.

Trusting and having teammates' backs: To win in life and game we need others' help. The more we realize it, the more grateful we become and enable others to do great things. We learn to rely on our teammates, celebrate their successes, and offer encouragement during setbacks. We have to believe that they will take that catch, win the match, even if they don’t we will support them because we are all on one team. As much as being kind to oneself is important, so is being kind to others when they fail. This spirit of camaraderie can enrich our relationships and foster a collaborative environment at work and in our personal lives. Because in the end it's not only about winning the game but to be a better human being keeping teammates first.

Patience & Perseverance: Similar to life, matches are long, tournaments take a lot of years. You win some, you lose some testing the patience and perseverance of individuals and teams. Batting deep, waiting for the correct opportunities to grab them to win matches, not giving up till the end, trusting in the process because beauty is in playing till the end and winning the game.

Pressure is a privilege: This beautiful saying “Pressure is a Privilege” by Billie Jean King, tells and shows us how we can take pressure as a privilege rather than a burden. It's not easy to have a billion people count on you for hitting the final six or getting the gold for your country. But it's a privilege that you can make a positive change in a billion people's lives. We embrace the challenges, channel our life to make it happen. From “I need to do that” to “I get to do that” we need to take pressure like a badge of honor. This mindset can be invaluable in our personal and professional lives, helping us thrive in high-stakes situations.

We need to move on: Whether it is a game or work or anything life is beyond the court or the ground. Even if we miss the catch, lose the match. We move on, get stronger, get better, focus on the current moment and opportunities ahead. The ability to let go of the past and embracing the present is crucial for resilience and mental well-being to bring our full potential. In the end it's just part of life.

That’s it. Is there anything more you learned from playing sports that can be mapped to other parts of life you want to share?

As you step onto your own life's pitch, keep these invaluable lessons that cricket has to offer. Embrace humility, live in the present, believe in yourself, foster strong relationships, cultivate patience and perseverance, welcome pressure as a catalyst for growth, and always have the courage to move on.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-discovery and growth.