THE POWER OF POSITIVITY - HOW DECCAN CHARGERS WON IPL II

Last week, when the IPL Semifinals were being held, I was in Goa, attending a conference organized by CRN, belonging to the worldwide UMB media. For most of the delegates, though the conference had lots of takeaways, the IPL matches were also top on their mind. So the organizers made arrangements by showing the match on the big screen.

My good friend Girish Madhavan, CEO of M/s. Quadsel Chennai, naturally was a Chennai Super Kings fan. However CSK lost in the semifinals, not able to build up a big score when it batted first. The match had the presence of Mr. Vijay Mallya, the owner of the opposing team Royal Challengers on the ground. The TV was showing him often and seeing it Girish disappointedly quipped that the match looks to be fixed by Mallya We all had a sympathetic laugh as a response. He said at this rate, only Royal Challengers would win the finals and nobody opposed him.

I was at home in Cochin when the final of IPL II took place. The Royal Challengers did a good job restricting Deccan Chargers to a modest score of 143 runs in 20 overs. Everyone saw the bowlers led by the legendary Anil Kumble doing a fantastic job and thought that Royal Challengers would win as it required only 7.2 runs per over to win the match and knowing that it is a Twenty20 tournament, it was not impossible to score the required run. I too was in the same frame of mind though I had my sympathies on Deccan Chargers.

The second inning was about to begin. Disappointment was writ all over the face of most of the players of the Deccan Chargers. Just before the beginning, I saw Adam Gilchrist, the captain of Deccan Chargers, calling all the team members together and speaking to them. One did know what words he spoke but it was evident that it was a motivating one. His face, body language and the delivery of the words had this display of positivity around it. To me that scene looked divine. It was then I knew Deccan Chargers are going to win. And win they did, splendidly.

You may know that winning such a match was not an easy one. With very minimal runs to defend, it all depended on how the captain marshalled his bowling resources well to restrict the opposing team. And the way the players listened to and responded to captain Gilchrist's call was superb.

The realization is very clear. What makes you a winner is the positivity that you hold. And the confidence you exude. To top it, winning requires motivating leadership. With such attitude, nobody can hold a candle on any team.

Thank you Deccan Chargers and Adam Gilchrist for giving such a wonderful learning!