Wednesday, January 27, 2021

If Rahane Did It, What About Shastri?

 This was a question many posed after I wrote about Rahane's captaincy being a critical factor in the amazing turnaround. What about Shastri's contribution, his reading of the game, his positivity, what he did to the team in the past five years? We must give him due credit said some.  We cannot take that away of course but we must address certain things and explain why it's about Rahane and not Shastri. 

1) It's The Captain's Ship 

No team will be known as the Coach's team. It will always be the captain's team. So all credit and brickbats go to the captain. The coach is an advisor. When Alexander wins, its about him, not about Aristotle. When a government makes a mistake the PM is held responsible, not his advisors. How he takes his advise is the key.

2) The Coach Can Advise at Best, The Captain Has to Use his Discretion 

A captain's greatness is not just in leading from the front and making on-field decisions but most of it lies in taking words of wisdom and discarding what does not work for him with discretion. Shastri can bring all the wisdom and experience in the world but it is up to the captain to take it in the right spirit and use it. That's why its Rahane again.

3) Great Captains Allow Wisdom to Flow In

Once again, certain captains carry an energy where the Coach or any other person with an insight, feels comfortable enough to suggest. We all know that certain people are easier to approach and certain people are not. A non-judgmental person who is like water is easier to approach. He makes everyone feel welcome, feel like they should contribute, feel like they should help - and then processes it all and uses what works for him. There is no ego, no position, no hard stance - and that's what allows things to happen. That energy is also what brings out the best from the Coach and other wise men.

Shastri vision and wisdom, his spirit and aggression, can never be questioned. Nor can Kohli's commitment and intent, intensity and drive. Between them, they have set the work ethic and built a team that is committed to excellence, a team with a purpose. But sometimes, when we drive too hard and expect certain results, it is counter-productive. There is the pressure of performing, of the result, which results in a tightening of the energy. The 36 for 9 story is a result of that. But then all that training they brought in, all of Rahane's past training in handling life and allowing it to evolve, blended perfectly when Virat left. Suddenly a void appeared, a vulnerable captain who was willing to soak in stuff emerged and everyone felt they could express themselves from this position without any pressure. What can be worse than 36! 

And simply for holding the space, for allowing everyone to express themselves, for getting all hands on board, without seemingly doing anything, Rahane did it. Like my young architect friend, Malay Deshmukh said recently when quizzed on how he organises things so well - "As an architect, I am trained to bring all the elements together and let things evolve". All of life's wisdom in that one line if we know what it means.

It's a fragile, gentle space. A space of non-action, of love. Rahane knows it.  

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