Permission to fail

Form deserts everyone batter at times in their career. When this happens run scoring becomes very difficult and may seem nigh impossible. What seemed like a walk in the park earlier now feels like a marathon. No change in training routines and preparation but they just don't seem to bear fruit. Virat Kohli is going through such a phase now. When one sets such high standards of performance like Kohli has for himself and delivered them so consistently over a such a long period of time, it is inevitable that there will be lean phase some time and unfortunately that time is now. 

RCB means a lot to Kohli. Despite his best efforts the IPL trophy continues to be evade his beloved RCB's grasp. The pressure of not contributing must be taking a toll and making it all the more difficult for him to bounce back. With each of his failures RCB's chances of making the playoffs are getting more and more tricky. Giving up RCB's captaincy must not have been easy. As Kohli felt it will enable him to contribute more as a batter he gave it up. This speaks a lot to the extent to which he will go to do the right things for the right results for RCB. 

RCB vs GT will be the 43rd match of the IPL. RCB has 5 more matches and potentially 3 more matches remaining in the playoffs. Let us indulge in a thought experiment.  

Let us assume Kohli has not been able to break his shackles and find form. This will result in RCB not reaching the playoffs. Or possibly, get knocked out in the eliminator or the qualifier or the final. When results matter there is a lot more pressure and we all know what winning the IPL trophy means to Kohli. Not winning the title this year will be one more failure for RCB. One more year of expectations not being met of the IPL fans. Is this the end of the story for Virat and RCB? 

Of course not! Disappointment will eat away the fans for a while but they are a resilient bunch and will be back next year to support the team again. Virat is an exceptional batter. To repeat the oft said cliché, form is temporary, class is permanent. It is not a matter of if Virat will rediscover his form but only a matter of when. 

As a well-wisher of Kohli and on behalf of all his fans, I would like to give him our permission to fail. Even if he does not score one more run in this tournament, it is OK. If he does not score and RCB end up not winning the title, that's OK as well. For all RCB fans, I would like to say, it is not a question of If you will ever win the title, it is just a matter of When. With this knowledge, let us enjoy the journey without getting caught up in the destination. 

Lack of form is akin to getting stuck in quick sand. The more you try to get out in the wrong way the more firmly you get to the bottom. The right way out is through letting go. So let go and play with abandon. RCB fans back you. All Indian cricket fans back you.

Keys for success

T20 cricket and IPL continues to get better setting the bar higher with every game. Each game has its own pulse based on many factors such as how results went teams' way so far in the tournament, each team's position in the points table, toss win/loss, dew, player's form/headspace and each of these factors has a say in how each match unfolds. However, irrespective of all these factors, there are a few principles which if followed will always increase any team's chances of a win. Some of these are captured below and this list will be revised intermittently as new lessons are learned and new insights gleaned.

 

1. Maximizing power play fielding restrictions: Intent to start scoring right from the get go is appreciable but things tend to click well if the batter gets his eye in. This may be just one shot for a batter and an over or two for others as per their form and how the pitch is behaving. Start looking to score at a brisk rate only after getting acclimatized and comfortable is the wise thing. Any attempt before that may result in a futile wicket. Even a well-set batter may get out to a great ball, which is unavoidable. These kinds of dismissals are well earned by the bowling team. However, any attempt to hit before getting set is just gifting the wicket to the opposition. 

 2. If the batter is unable to settle and score even after taking time, with each passing ball the pressure is bound to increase. If the shackles are not broken, eventually the batter will succumb and get out trying something injudicious. More time the batter spends at the crease, the chances of finding form increase.  It takes just one shot for things to fall into place for the batter. If things are not working out, take a single and get off strike. May be the other batter is seeing it well. In a spell of tight bowling if a batter is unable to score of the first five balls of the over, don't place all your bets on the last ball and try to hit it for a six. The odds of that working out is less and the odds of a wicket are high. One more dot ball is still OK instead of a wicket lost. If the batter gets set next over, is most likely to make up for the maiden later.

3. If the opposition has a bowler bowling very well or has had an edge over the batter in the previous encounters, it is wiser and more productive to get off the strike rather than trying to set the record straight.

4. In a high-pressure chase, if the batting team has a set batter scoring high early can ease the pressure later. However, if the going is tough, take it deep. Things may look too difficult now but one great over or a couple of good overs later can change things drastically.

5. If a senior batter is at the other end, the batter's job is to play risk free cricket, score off the bad balls and give the senior partner most of the strike. 

6. As a batter, whenever play resumes after any break, play cautiously for a couple of balls, even if results in dot balls. Losing your wicket is costlier than dot balls.

7. As a bowling team, if the batters are playing really well, keep the energy high and control the controllable(s). One wicket brought about by exceptional fielding, a great catch or an inspired spell can change the opposition's fortune.