- People in the know would appreciate the subject matter in no uncertain terms, especially those having been part of some sporting discipline per se would always vouch for the same. As you are aware, there are single-player sports as well as team-based sports but one common denominator for both is camaraderie, uniformity, competitiveness, skillsets, humility, appreciation, oneness, and other distinct characteristic traits defining the very essence of sporting culture. The sporting field also teaches us to imbibe certain life lessons which can be experienced in person rather than attempting to read through written literature. Make no mistake, extremely valuable life lessons are abundantly available in the sporting arena that stands us in good stead when it matters most.
PC: istockphoto
- However, none can dispute the sportsman spirit that is so elementary in ensuring any sporting discipline is bereft of the underlying mechanism where brotherhood stands out. Of course, there has to be a winner and a loser, but that doesn’t take away playing sports in the right spirit. Yes, competing opponents will go for the kill which only adds to the excitement quotient but not at the altar of sacrificing inherent sportsman spirit. We all saw recently how legendary tennis superstars and competitors Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal set a worthwhile example showcasing that sportsmen can also be admirably respectful to each other. Sportsman spirit again came to the fore recently during the Duleep Trophy cricket final that concluded a few days back.
- Cricketer Ajinkya Rahana, who was leading West Zone against South Zone, set a fine benchmark for upholding the spirit of cricket and sports in general. Also, he gave a fine leadership lesson in the process too. Rahane sent his teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal off the field for seven overs for incessant sledging – a virtually unheard-of captain’s call. Complaining about opposition players’ sledging is common. Nonetheless, disciplining a performing player from your own ranks takes guts and a well-honed moral compass. Remember, the qualities on display were evident even when Rahane led the national team, as well. Yes, it was under his calm and composed captaincy that India scripted one of the greatest comebacks in a Test series, against Australia in 2020-21.
PC: Violeena Vargav
- With so much riding, cricketers have been pushing the limits of verbal crosstalk in recent years. With the advent of high-octane T20 cricket and TV and online streaming becoming an integral part of the commercial side of the game, on-field aggression by players can appear and indeed is entertaining. But there is a fine line between playing hard and being nasty. That line is easily determined by common sense. That common sense is more useful than Law 42 of the laws of cricket which deals with offensive conduct. Agreed, some banter between players adds tadka to the game. But knowing the limits is even more important. Jaiswal is a budding talent. Here, Rahane has taught him an invaluable lesson that will help him in the future.
