Once in the Reckoning

The other day I saw Saurabh Tiwari walking out to bat for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing edition of the IPL 2017. Sometime later, at the fall of second wicket in the innings, in walked Ambati Rayudu to join him at the crease. They both played a key role in Mumbai Indians win over Rising Pune Supergiant.  While Saurabh Tiwari was playing his first match of the season for Mumbai Indians, Ambati Rayudu was playing only his second match of the season for the IPL franchise. In the opposition team of Rising Pune Supergiant was Manoj Tiwari, who was lucky enough to be regular in the playing eleven. The connect? All three of them were once in the reckoning for a berth in Indian Cricket team. Rather they were considered strong and rightful contenders for a place in the national team. They did make it to the team as well. But for some reasons, the stint was not long enough for Saurabh Tiwari, Manoi Tiwari missed the bus because of injuries, while Ambati Rayudu despite an enviable average of  50.23 remained on the fringes.

It's not that they have given​ up on their aspirations or their talent has deserted them. The performance they keep coming up with at every given opportunity is reminder of the inherent talent. Nor that they have stopped trying hard enough. I am sure, even today they still nurse and cherish that dream to be part of the coveted Indian cricket team. It's not just these three. There are many other players who for some reason or the other despite being in the reckoning are out of it.

While deliberating on their presence in the said game, I realized that their exclusion needs to be looked at from different perspectives. 

One perspective is that of changing times. The way the game used to be played when they were in contention is not played the same way now. The dynamics of the game have changed.

Another perspective is that the of the requirement of the role. The requirements of the role may have changed. The role once which befitted them is no longer required to be performed or there is someone else who is already performing that role. 

There is also a possibility that the composition of the existing team and their ability to complement each is strong enough to hold on to its own. The team has gelled well over the time and is raising the bar higher. In such a case there's not much left to do but keep knocking and wait for an opportunity which possibly may never come.

Moreover there is only room for 11 players who eventually take to the field. The number of people aspiring to make the opportunities count or even to get a shot at those opportunities outnumber the opportunities. There is always someone who is going to be left out, not because the person is not capable, its just the that the requirements don't match skill set.

That's precisely the case with the corporate life as well. It's just the field changes; the players change; the outcomes more or less remain the same. Those once in the reckoning to make the cut are no longer in the race  but that does not mean they have been done and dusted. Somewhere, with whatever opportunities come their way, and making them count they are ensuring that the team is never out of options.