Raw emotions, real champions: India’s world cup triumph

As Indians and fans of cricket, we were ecstatic when Hardik Pandya bowled the final ball of the last over, clinching an extraordinary victory from the brink of defeat. After 13 years, India won an ICC tournament and after 17 years, the T20 World Cup. While these numbers highlight the importance of victory, the true essence of this victory dawned on me as I observed the Indian players’ emotions post-match.

This wasn’t the typical celebration of players rushing towards each other in excitement. Hardik Pandya couldn’t contain his tears. Rohit Sharma collapsed to the ground, pounding his hand in disbelief, while Virat Kohli, although extremely happy, was less expressive than usual. Rahul Dravid’s joy was evident, perhaps the most animated he had been since his angry avatar in a TV ad. Their reactions reflected the immense hardships they had endured. It revealed the pent-up emotions from last year’s World Cup Final loss and their personal struggles. The relief of not letting another World Cup slip through their fingers was visible.

The players were overwhelmed and didn’t shy away from displaying their raw emotions. The sight of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli embracing, or Hardik Pandya being lifted by his IPL teammate Rohit Sharma, epitomized true brotherhood. Dravid, despite his illustrious career, finally got his hands on a World Cup trophy. Jasprit Bumrah had battled injuries, Rishabh Pant was making a comeback from a life-threatening accident and Pandya had faced unfair criticism during his first season as captain of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Kohli had a disappointing tournament until the finals and Sharma was carrying the immense pain of losing last year’s World Cup finals to Australia, despite India being the clear favourites.

Nothing teaches the importance of resilience like sports. There is something almost mystical about the experience of getting knocked down and standing up again to deliver a punch. Tennis great Roger Federer, in his recent commencement speech at Dartmouth, mentioned that throughout his career, he won only 54% of the points he played. Losing every second point on average teaches one not to dwell on every shot. He stressed the importance of refocusing after losing a point: “When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world,” Federer said. “But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is crucial because it frees you to fully commit to the next point, and the next one, with intensity, clarity and focus.”

Novak Djokovic, another tennis great, echoed a similar sentiment in an earlier interview. He mentioned that athletes should allow themselves to feel their emotions but quickly move past the negative ones. This ability to move on separates champions from rest, a principle applicable beyond sports. He also mentioned that he is not gifted with this mindset. He trains his mental side to this effect just as he trains physically.

Even in life outside of sports, the ability to let go of failure and the negative emotions associated with it is extremely important. However, this is easier said than done. In high-stakes situations, we are often prone to the fear of failure. One small mistake can trigger a compelling voice in our head, telling us how foolish we are and that the situation is unsalvageable. This prevents us from focusing on the task at hand. It feels as if our mind is hijacked, rendering us unable to perform to the best of our abilities. This creates a negative feedback loop, causing us to catastrophize the situation. From the likes of Rohit Sharma and Roger Federer, we must learn that they are not special because they don’t get frustrated by failures; they are special because they acknowledge that feeling a setback is human. However, the key lies in bouncing back and focusing on the next task.

Sometimes, success comes only after years of failed attempts. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, won his first championship in his 7th season as a professional. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar took 22 years to win the cricket World Cup, despite being the world’s best player for many of those years. Imagine their struggles and self-doubt when results eluded them despite their extraordinary skills and best efforts. However, they didn’t let negative emotions overwhelm them. They kept working on their game and giving their best. While there is no guarantee of success, persevering and continually striving to improve is the best bet one can make.

Sir Alex Ferguson, former manager of Manchester United, famously said in 1999 after his team beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final that they won because they “never give in.” His team managed to secure victory in a match they had almost lost. This self-belief, the refusal to buckle under pressure, and giving their best led to a memorable victory. Similarly, with 30 runs needed off 30 balls by South Africa, India could have easily succumbed to the pressure. But they never gave in and stuck to their plan. Staying cool and calm in such situations requires nerves of steel, a quality displayed by all the players – from Surya Kumar Yadav’s acrobatic catch on the boundary to Bumrah’s exceptional final spell and Axar Patel’s crucial knock to Pandya’s impeccable last over.

As Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retire from T20 international cricket, they leave a significant void. Their legacy goes beyond their cricketing skills—they have set a benchmark for the next generation in terms of skill, leadership and emotional maturity. These qualities will indeed be crucial for the Men in Blue to continue achieving greatness in the future.

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