Five life lessons from the India World Cup squad

#4 Ravindra Jadeja- Nothing is impossible

Ravindra Jadeja

Remember the Champions Trophy Final, 2017? Remember that horrendous mix-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya between the wickets, that left both Pandya and the fans fuming at the left-handed all-rounder?

For Jadeja, the CT final was arguably the nadir of his ODI career. With his ability to deliver on non-responsive tracks coming under scrutiny, plus Hardik Pandya’s emergence as a top-notch batting all-rounder, Jadeja soon found himself out of the reckoning from India’s ODI set-up for more than a year.

However, a back injury to Hardik Pandya during the Asia Cup and its subsequent recurrence prior to the home ODI series against Australia brought Jadeja back into the fray. Jadeja is a multi-dimensional cricketer; a gun fielder; a more than handy bowler, but it is his batting that needs to step up, especially with India boasting a long tail.

When all is said and done, the fact that he still finds himself a part of the ODI squad for the marquee event this summer, just goes to show that like in life, nothing is impossible in sports. It is always about following a process and sticking to it, without worrying about the uncontrollable.

#3 Mohammad Shami - How to defy the odds

Mohammad Shami

Just imagine yourself in Mohammad Shami’s shoes when the selectors named him in the 15-man touring party for the 2019 World Cup. This was unfathomable 12 months ago. Shami’s life was in turmoil last year, where the off-field scandal, temperamental form and fragile fitness put his central contract and career in jeopardy.

With the strength of the bench breathing down his neck, many in Indian cricket feared the end of Shami’s career.

A key member of India’s 2015 World Cup campaign, Shami was out of the ODI set-up ever since that quadrennial event held in Australia four years ago. Even his ardent fans’ would not have predicted him going to England in the summer of 2019.

But as they say, adversity does not always bog you down; it can also help channelize the beast in you; a beast ready to fight against all odds; a beast ready to rise up and script his own redemption story.

Until last year, India’s bowling group in ODI cricket was settled with Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah spearheading the seam bowling department, followed by the wrist-spin duo of Kuldeep and Chahal. India also tried Khaleel Ahmed to add variety to their attack with a left-arm quick, sending Shami back in the pecking order.

However, Shami reminded everyone why he was such a potent ODI bowler for India during the 2015 World Cup, when he finally got a chance in the ODI set-up in October against the West Indies.

Since then, Mohammad Shami has claimed 22 wickets in 13 ODIs. This includes a ‘Player of the series’ performance against New Zealand, where he claimed nine wickets in four matches. Shami’s rhythm, consistency, seam-position, and his fitness have coincided with the subsequent dip in Bhuvneshwar’s form. The fact that he is now being looked upon as the potential second seamer in the side ahead of Bhuvi speaks volumes of his perseverance, persistence, and tenacity.