“To unclover your true potential , you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the
courage to blow past them”

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” – Mahatma Gandhi

My very first leadership role was captaining my cricket team when I was eight, a role I performed with all seriousness. Over the years, captaincy became less of a role and more of a mindset. I realized that being a leader means making decisions not in my best interest.

I have been on the losing side and it has become evident to me that nothing comes out of blaming my teammates for a bad performance or even blaming myself. I constantly asked my coaches about various methods to improve my skill set and the work required to achieve it. In a recent match, the players of both teams were known to me. It turned out to be an intense match but my team lost by a mere 2 runs. In such situations, I realize that I cannot blame myself or my team for the shortcomings, and neither can I go back and replay the moments. Instead, I chose to understand the errors and work harder with my team to ensure that they would not be repeated. ‘A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.’

“One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.” – Jason Lyle – Coach Carter

This is what being in a team is and I truly stand by this. These are words from a movie that had a huge impact on me, Coach Carter. I recently played a match where my team was in a difficult position and we needed someone to step up. Hence I took it upon myself to change the pace of the game, but unfortunately, my team-mate made a critical mistake and caused me to get out at the prime of my innings. However, I held my composure and kept it to myself, even when I was criticized for it by my coach. Later, my coach did find out that it was not my fault and appreciated my sportsmanship. A major component of being in a team is having each other’s backs and this was key to forming a winning team.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.”– Mahatma Gandhi

These words struck a chord with me and made me want to give back to the game. I thus began teaching cricket to kids at a local orphanage school. I understood their difficulty of not having adequate equipment and more importantly, I wanted to inspire a belief that they could actually play cricket at a competitive level, rather than just as a recreational activity. I conversed with them, coached them, and tried to instil in them the required courage and self-belief to overcome this challenge. Inspiring a positive and confident change in their mindsets would lead them to empower themselves. It gives me immense satisfaction that the school team now participates in the State 3rd Division School League.

“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” – Mike Singletary

I do not limit myself to just cricket. I also play football and basketball. I enjoy swimming, rollerblading and golf. Since I am an avid sports fan, I follow professional cricket, soccer and basketball.

“Champions have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” – Muhammad Ali

An early disappointment of not being selected in a school match sparked a determination in me that prevented it from happening ever again, making me realize the power of grit and focus. To learn more about the power of determination, I came up with the ‘Mental Strength Matters’ campaign for athletes.

My chief aim was to understand the role mental strength plays in overcoming obstacles that various athletes face. I have conducted dozens of interviews with successful athletes, and have classified my learnings under the four major components of Values, Skills, Knowledge, and Attitude. These components helped me better understand the role of mental strength in the lives of athletes at the top of their game.

I am working now to raise awareness of mental strength, with the additional hope that schools might be receptive to including mental strength as a part of the educational curriculum. I believe that Mental strength is a critical determinant of consistent performance in the competitive career of an athlete. Formal mental training at an early age is one step towards ensuring that, in the future, the country thrives in all major sports at national and international levels.