Learnings from IPL

Simple uncomplicated learning from IPL

1. Question the convention: The best minds of the game had delivered their verdict that first 20-20 was a batsman's game and second the spinner would get plundered. Nothing could have been further away from the truth than this verdict. IPL2 had enough and more for the bowlers to hold their heads high and more so the spinners. Jakati, Pragyan Ojha and their ilk earned their place of pride.
2. Never Give Up: Perhaps there could not be a better platform than the IPL to exhibit this characteristic. Look at the game that Mumbai lost to Delhi. Some 4 runs needed of the last over with 3 wickets in hand. Delhi held its nerve and Mumbai choked to defeat. The game that Royal Challengers beat KKR is another such example. The game was slipping out of the grip of RC till Ross Taylor came and played a blinder to make 80 something of 30 odd balls to wrest the game away from KKR. There have been several other examples that go to prove that we must never give up and perhaps the penultimate moment is most critical that separates the men from the boys
3. Reinvention is the way for the future: We often typecast ourselves and define the role we have to play too early in our lives. IPL proved it beyond doubt that there is a lot of talent that needs to be uncovered. Had it not been for this Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina would have never matched their bowling prowess with their batting performance. There may be a poet, a writer, a singer, a sportsman slumbering away within your confines. It is up to you to prod the sleeping talent and bring it to life that can take you into an altogether and unexpected orbit of progress and fame. Hence the lesson is to google within your confines and locate the hidden talent.
4. Encourage youth: Never hesitate to bring to light the talent that is in the youth. If you succeed in doing this you would have done fair amount of justice to your role as a leader. The leaders that brought out the best in the youngsters gained the most in the IPL games. Manish Pandey changed the fate of Royal Challengers. So did Jakati for CSK and Praghyan Ojha for Deccan Chargers. There were others too who were discovered during the course of the tournament.
5. Experience is evergreen: While youth is the future, experience is magical. While most IPL pundits had written off the oldies, IPL proved them all wrong and how. Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Anil Kumble were the biggest stars in this IPL. While Anil Kumble was the man of the match in the finals, Adam Gilchrist turned out to be the man of the series. I doubt if anything else could have brought to bear the virtues of experience. Hence before one thinks of writing off the veterans as "had beens", it would be wise to pause and think twice. Who says Rahul Dravid is not cut out for this format. There is a clear berth for experience in the IPL.
6. A successful formula will stand the test of time and geography: Many a skeptics had predicted that the South African version would not measure up to the inauguaral version. After all the passion would not be the same with the spectators. But again skeptics were made to eat humble pie by the time the tournament had reached its mid way. Just goes to show a successful concoction will not only stand the test of time but also the test of geography. The IPL organizers will perhaps make the international editiona regular affair in the future. The Bollywood effect will continue to prvide the magic. The dance girsl will continue to jig. And the "no compromise" execution will continue to be the icing on the cake. If coke has lived on beyond a century for cracking the right formula so will IPL