I have always believed that leadership always plays a very crucial role everywhere. This applies to any area, whether we talk about home, organisation or sport. It is everywhere. A good leader can drive us towards a goal. A leader could be father, mother, boss, teacher, principal or a coach. I have observed the importance of leadership while I was watching the cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday. Afghans defeated Pakistan for the first time in ODI matches.

While chasing a grand total Afghans looked calm and composed and took their team to victory. Nowhere during the match did they seem to be in a hurry. The Afghanistan team has worked very hard and played good cricket in a few years, but when it comes to chasing against a big team they would run out of patience.

This is for the time I have noticed that they looked calm like monks. This was a change I have observed in their behaviour, and I give full credit to their mentor, former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja. The moment I saw Ajay sitting with the Afghan team, I could feel why they are so cool in this tournament. Ajay himself was a swashbuckling batter for Team India and would always look calm and composed on and off the field. Therefore, I feel Ajay’s presence as a mentor for Afghanistan team is helping them to win matches. That’s why I feel leadership plays a very important role.

Venkat Raman,
By email