Cricket is a religion in India. Like millions of my country fellas, I fell for this gentlemen's game at a very young age. From Sachin's straight drive to Dravid's square-cut, Ponting's pull to Laxman's flick, I practiced every traditional shot on the books until a long-haired man came out to bat at number 3 for India vs. Pakistan at Visakhapatnam, April 5, 2005. I have never seen any batsman hitting harder than him. He scored runs in every corner of the ground. Looking at his unique batting and wicket-keeping style, former cricketers, experts, critics, and commentators have said their word that this guy isn't lasting long here. Fast-forwarding to April 2, 2011, just like that, he hit the six to win the World Cup and cheered up 1.2 billion people, inspiring the younger generations that it doesn't matter where you come from believe in your hard work. Success follows. Just four years into captaincy, MS Dhoni already had the T20 World Cup, Number one ranking in Test Side, 50 over World Cup, and in the subsequent years that followed, he won champions trophy and a couple of champion leagues and IPL trophies followed. He has possibly achieved all that can be won on a cricket field. He was now hailed as one of the greatest ever cricketers to have ever graced the game. Watching him for more than 15 years now, the legacy he left behind is truly inspirational.
How can MS Dhoni and his cricketing career inspire B-School aspirants? Well, a keen observation of his career can answer the question.
Do you remember MS Dhoni handing over the ball to Joginder Sharma instead of experienced ace spinner Harbhajan Singh?
The moment he decided to do that, all the other ten players, including the coach, believed in him. As future leaders, it is imperative to win the trust of our subordinates, colleagues, and our bosses.
Taking risks is essential, but it has to be calculative; great things cannot be achieved without making tough decisions. Go for it. Be strong enough to face the consequences. In recent years, MS Dhoni has been using the phrase "Trust in your Process and make it right." No matter what the result is, always trust your process, set it right in the first place and be ready to give your best on the D-day. One of MS Dhoni's most significant achievements was handling the team. The way he held transition from many senior legendary players to younger ones speaks volumes about one of the important skills an MBA graduate must possess: the ability to work with a wide variety of people. Often, these soft skills help us handle interpersonal relations, make appropriate decisions, and have a good impression and impact to gain professional development. One of the most prevalent reasons for pursuing an MBA is to advance in one's profession – from a new position to higher responsibilities and income. The MBA, for many, is a bridge to this advancement since it improves competitiveness and credibility in the job market. Employees with an MBA are groomed for leadership roles and responsibilities, making them valuable assets for firms to fulfill their goals and expand. The MBA provides students with a broad understanding of business, ranging from leadership and financial management to marketing and strategic management. The wide range of topics addressed helps students understand why businesses operate the way they do and provides a solid foundation for future policy and decision-making. Prospective students are motivated because they want formal validation of their business expertise and grasp the entire business world, even areas outside of their profession.
About the Author
Rohith Surapuraju is a PGP1 student of IIM Nagpur. He has 29 months of work experience in SAP ERP systems with Advanced Business Application Programming for Infosys Limited. In his leisure time, he loves to play Cricket. He is looking forward to graduating in 2023 with specializations in Strategy and Project Management.