Hello, I am Ritu Singal. Over the years, whether I am acting as a keynote speaker in India or sitting across from a corporate executive for employee counselling, one question remains constant: “How do I become the kind of leader people actually want to follow?”
Whether you are Shaqeel, a business owner, or a professional climbing the ladder in a global institute, your success isn’t defined by your individual brilliance, but by the collective heartbeat of your team. To understand this, we need to look at the greatest theatre of leadership we know: Cricket.
Leadership Skills & Winning Teams: Lessons from the 2003 World Cup | Life Coach Ritu Singal
We often talk about the glory years, but leadership is forged in the “almost” moments. Think back to 2003. India reached the finals with a team dripping with legendary talent. We had Virender Sehwag—who played with the fearlessness of Sachin Tendulkar—Saurav Ganguly, and the explosive Yuvraj Singh. The nation’s expectations were at an “Infinity War” level of intensity.
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As the best life coach for many high-performers, I see this in offices every day. You can have a “Dream Team” of experts, but if the leader cannot manage the psychology of a setback, the talent evaporates. Leadership isn’t just about strategy; it’s about the “break-time talk.” It’s about what you say when the goal feels impossible.
The Shift: From 434 Runs to 2026 Reality
Leadership quality shows slowly, like a slow-burning fuse. Take the famous match where a target of 434 runs was set. In those moments, the “internet voice committee” and the critics are always loud. But a true leader filters the noise.
I remember a story where a spouse asked a player what the secret was, and the answer was simple: Belief. They scored the runs because they decided, collectively, that the target was “easy” before they even picked up the bat.
To build a winning team, you must master these leadership skills:
Psychological Safety: Whether it’s “Saini” or “Laddu” on your team, they need to know that if they fail while swinging for a six, you have their back.
The “Next Man In” Philosophy: Ganguly’s era taught us that the captain must be ready to anchor the ship the moment a wicket falls. You aren’t just a boss; you are the safety net.
Customized Coaching: In my employee counselling sessions, I emphasize that you cannot lead everyone the same way. You don’t talk to a Sehwag the same way you talk to a Dravid.
Why Leadership is Like a “Subscription” to Excellence
I often joke that leadership is like a subscription—you have to renew it every single day. You don’t just “become” a leader and stop. You earn that title through every interaction. When the commentator asked that famous question about what was said to a partner before a big game, the answer wasn’t a complex tactical breakdown. It was about connection and trust.
In any organization, the “runs” (results) follow the “culture” (the vibe). If your team feels like they are playing a game of golf—solitary and pressured—they will crack. If they feel like they are part of a brotherhood, they will chase down 434 runs without blinking.
Checkout: Take Your Leadership Skills to the Next Level: Qualities of Effective Leaders in the 21st Century
Final Thoughts: Can You Do It?
As I always say, “Leadership is a tough thing, but you can do it well.” It requires a mix of empathy and raw grit. You have to be the person who stays calm when the “Schezwan sauce” moments of business life get too spicy to handle.
If you are ready to transform from a manager into a visionary, start by looking at your team not as “resources,” but as players in a championship final. Give them a reason to believe the target is easy, and they will give you the win.
