Sehwag’s 219 and life lessons….

Yesterday Virendra Sehwag hit an incredible 219 in 47 overs that he was there on the crease. The way he was going, if he had stayed till 50^th over, who knows he might have crossed 250. 


An outstanding effort!!!

What makes it more significant is that it took few decades (since the debut of ODIs) for arguably the world’s best batsman Sachin to score the first ever 200 in an ODI. And within 2 years Sehwag went past it. I am sure very soon someone else will also score a 200 in ODI and then someone else…..

All the world needs is someone to do it first time and show that it is possible. A spark…..

How many times have we seen a company to come up with innovative, pioneering products after decades of research and then within 2-3 years some other company not only comes up with a better product, but becomes market leader, leaving the pioneer much behind? The corporate history is full of such stories.

Those who have read about Sehwag know that his approach to the game is very uncomplicated and unassuming. Very rarely do we see him trying to adapt to the situation. He sticks to what he calls is his natural instinct. So many times he has been ridiculed and even dropped from team for seemingly irresponsible approach and not playing in team’s interest, but his response has been “This is the only way I know how to play, if a ball is there to be hit for six, I will hit it irrespective whether it is the first ball of the match or last, India is at 50/ 8 or 200/0.” Due to this approach, he has got out first ball trying to play “ambitious shots”, lost matches when he was expected to lead the fight back.

But this is the same guy who has completed a 300 in a test match in a day. He is the only human to complete two 300s in test and one 200 in ODIs. He has set up so many victories for his team. His style is in contrast to the greats, the absolutely committed Sachin and Dravid. But his impact on the game and his team’s fortunes is the same if nor more than these greats. He is an equally important part of the team’s strategies.

Yesterday a commentator called him a Saint, completely oblivious to what goes around him, just immersed in his own world creating magic with his own distinct style and skill.

Reminds me of one of my "Rubaru" moment with my friend and senior Subbu (My boss at Hitachi Data Systems) in 2007. He said “You may have thousands weaknesses and only 5 strengths. You can either spend your entire life trying to improve those weaknesses and change your life 5-10% or you make those 5 strengths so strong that the weaknesses will get overshadowed and you will make significant changes to your life”. 

What an amazing advice!!!

Since that day, I have just been consolidating my life around those 5-6 strengths that I have and it has worked wonders for me…. It helps you achieve what you want and in a manner that is natural to you. (I still try and find time to improve on my weaknesses thoughJ)

Thanks Subbu for teaching me this lesson and thanks Sehwag for proving it so right….