We are going way back in 2011 when I was an 14 year old boy who loved playing cricket, I had just completed my 9th grade and was studying that time in 10th grade in the famous school in the city Nagpur called G.H Raisoni Vidyaniketan and although I haven’t seen heaven, that school where I grew from a kid to a boy is and was nothing less than heaven to me and will stay that way for the rest of my life. Ever since childhood I always loved to lead even when with my bunch of friends back then or even when in home, I used to take pride in playing the role of a captain and a leader and loved to lead with example, still do. In 2011 I played my first series as full time captain in cricket. As a captain now my task was not only to concentrate on my batting skills but also to be able to lead my entire team and that’s when you realize that team effort is most important and that we are working for a common cause which really motivates all of us that no matter what the strength and the weaknesses are of each and every member of the team but in the end we all form a cohesive unit learning from our mistakes and we all are together in this, fighting to stand victorious.

This was a 3 match limited overs series precisely 12 overs per side. As the captain of the side for the entire duration of the bilateral series I picked my squad of 14 players and we all practiced together and hence understood the playing style of each other which helped me understand who is suited better at which role which was very important because I had to decide the proper batting order for the team and at the same time I had to pick my best bowlers. So after practice session next day the series began & I picked my team’s playing XI, we played well throughout the match and in the end we won the match convincingly but on a personal note I failed in this match both in batting as well as fielding and I owed up to my failure knowing I did not give my best however in the end it was more important to realize that our entire team effort had led to us winning the match, rather than lamenting on my individual performance it was important for me to celebrate my teams victory because in the end the most important thing is to win which we did convincingly.

Coming to the next match it was important for us as a victory here would have sealed the series in our favour and at the same time it was also a critical encounter for me as the captain who had to improve himself and at the same time had to lead his unit ahead. We always knew that the opponent would come hard at us given they were 1-nil down in the series but we were prepared for them and we knew we were good enough to handle them but I as captain always reminded my team not to get over confident at any stage of the match or the series because confidence is good but over confidence is self-destructive. The match begun and we batted well throughout the first innings and put in front a challenging total for the opposition to chase down however my personal performance stayed where it was in the first match and I was truly dejected over my poor performance and it was on my mind. Throughout the break I was challenged as a leader to put behind my personal failures and focus on the task in hand which was to defend the score we had put forward. We went out there in defence of the total and we fought real hard though in my mind I believe the pitch eased out in the second innings and it became relatively easy to bat on that surface. The match went till the final ball but we lost the match and we accepted the result knowing the opponents played better than us in all 3 departments of the game. Having lost the match the series now was level one all and the focus was on the 3rd and the final match which now was the do or die match and to be honest with you such circumstances always brought the best in me when ever I got challenged I always swung for the fences.

Coming into the 3rd & final match my attitude was slightly more positive and I tried to tell my team mates that lets just give our best, the process needs to be strong and the result will take care of itself. The match begun we won the toss and bowled first and from there the destruction begun for us and we were decimated by the opposition all over the park I myself gave away 30 runs in 2 overs. Over all they crossed 100 runs mark in 12 overs and a target of nearly 8 runs per over was never going to be easy to chase down but I had full faith in my team and I knew somewhere I also needed to step up to the task. During the run chase we batted well for first 6 overs keeping with the required run rate but we lost all the momentum in next 3 overs and by the time the last ball of 10th over was bowled we lost half our side and still required 30 more runs to win both the match as well as the series in the last 2 overs. It was at that moment when I stood up and in my vintage style showed my left hand to my team saying I’m going next. I went there took my guard and knocked the first ball around for a single, me and my partner rotated the strike with singles for next 4 balls and I after playing those first 2 balls got slightly used to the wicket and that’s when I stepped out of my crease heaved the final ball into the stands over mid on to finish the over with 11 runs meaning we needed another 19 runs to win the match in final 6 balls. Next over my batting partner scored 5 runs from first 2 balls and I got the strike with requiring another 14 runs of the remaining 4 balls to win the match. I just knew I’m getting the job done no matter what. Next ball was a full toss on my waist and I flicked it for 4 runs after that back to back next 2 balls I hit them both into the stands and lifted my bat in delight as I had successfully finished the match and our team chased the total down. I still remember I started dancing at the crease as I helped my team achieve what once looked out of our reach. I always had faith in my abilities I knew when the time will come I will surely deliver, I was always confident but I was never over confident, I just backed my skills and never said never.

In the end after winning that series we all were damn happy I infact received praises for my dancing skills though I ain’t a good dancer you can trust me there what ever stunt I pulled at the crease after winning that match full credit for that goes to adrenaline. I believe our passion is every thing and it is what defines us but in order to be able to achieve your passion and dreams you need to have the hunger and the discipline which fuels you and keeps you determined. The focus should always be on getting the job done. As the great man MS Dhoni once said himself, “Process is greater than the result.”