Why cricket analogy is serious business

One of the best explanations of strategic thinking I stumbled on is about cricket.

- SUVEEN SINHA

One of the best explanations of strategic thinking I stumbled on is about cricket. You see, a bad cricket captain sends a fielder where the last delivery was hit by the batter. A good captain, on the other hand, places his field according to his understanding of the batter's weaknesses, the pitch and conditions, and his own bowler's strengths. This captain won't be rattled into changing the field placement after every ball.

I liked the analogy so much I have been thinking of peddling it as my own. But I was a little unsure. I mean, why drag cricket analogy into business and economy writing?

But now I feel emboldened.

Towards the end of last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said a lot of people likened foreign policy to chess. But it was, in reality, more like cricket. "And it is like cricket because, first, there are many players. Two, the playing conditions keep varying. Playing at home and playing abroad are very different. You are at the umpire's whims at times. There are many formats."

In a fireside chat at the Business Standard BFSI summit in early November, Mr Das said: "Every catch is as serious and as important as the previous catch. Sometimes you drop what looks to be an easy catch... sometimes you take difficult catches." He was speaking about the challenges he faced as the RBI governor.

At last year's edition of the same summit, Mr Das had exhorted banking and financial sector people to "play long term, play like Rahul Dravid."