Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What's Next

Life can get pretty tough if you have not decided on what's next. Because each time you achieve or do something on the go, you have to keep thinking about what's next.  Spontaneity is good to an extent. It can get you to a particular point, but then after you have to be sure about which way are you going to go or what you are going to do next.  There will come a time when you will have to sit down, reflect, and ask some tough questions to yourself. Do some soul searching in your quest to find out what is next.  Because you can't be aimlessly be shooting out in the dark and hoping to hit the target. Knowing where, what, why, and how you are going to aim for the target drastically improves and enhances your chances of hitting the target.  So the next time you think about what's next, think of it as a series of goals and objectives to help you achieve the big picture. Preparation combined with a dash of spontaneity takes what's next to the next level.

Day 19 - The Power of Multidisciplinary Approach

In an era of specialization, many of the world's most successful people advocate for a broader, more holistic view—one that embraces a multidisciplinary approach to life. This approach involves combining knowledge and skills from various fields, leading to better problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. Think of a Renaissance person like Leonardo da Vinci, whose expertise spanned art, science, and engineering, shaping innovation for centuries. Today, the importance of a multidisciplinary mindset has become even more crucial in navigating the complexities of modern life. The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Approach David Epstein’s book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, provides compelling arguments for why those who explore a wide variety of interests often outperform their more specialized peers in the long run. Epstein highlights examples from sports, business, and science, showing that people who dip their toes into different fields are often...

How Many Things Do You Do in an Hour?

How Many Things Do You Do in an Hour? Not finish, do. It’s different. Doing has nothing to do with finishing. Neither am I talking about productivity. I’m just asking — what do you do? Let’s see... You walk into the office. Grab a cup of coffee — if your office provides one. Sit down, open your inbox. You start typing a reply — But a word in that email triggers a memory. Oh, that call! The one you forgot to make. You pull out your phone. Dial. Done. Except… now that call adds a new task to your to-do list. (If you keep one.) Before you hang up, a colleague stops by. You end the call. You listen. It’s about that meeting you missed. Because you were in another meeting. A more important one. Apparently. You nod, thank them. Just then — your phone rings. It’s your manager. "Update me on the meeting you attended. And I hope you got the heads-up on the one you didn’t. Meet me in five minutes." You say yes. You turn back to the email — But remember: You had asked someone...