Indian Cricket Team won the Champions Trophy 2025 on 9 March, by beating New Zealand and stamping full authority in the 50 over cricket match format. Coming on the heels of India’s victory in the T20 World Cup in June last year, the Indian Cricket Team has emerged as world champions in the limited-over format. Indian Cricket Team has an enviable record in all forms of cricket. Cricket is followed like a religion in India and the fortunes of the Indian Cricket Team impact the psyche of the nation. The current win once again offers key lessons for a youthful nation like India where almost 60 per cent of the population is below 40.
The first and foremost lesson is the right team selection. In India, cricket is highly competitive and a career sport for the young. Cricket is played right from the grassroots level to international level. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has done a commendable job by selecting a cricket team, purely on merit, as per requirements of the 50 over format. Our nation has to understand that only meritocracy can make us the world champions. We as a nation need the best team for every sphere of activity.
The second lesson is the reach of cricket in every corner of the country. BCCI and the state bodies have invested in the appropriate infrastructure for cricket coaching in each state and region of India. Thus, cricket is a truly inclusive sport in India. BCCI is the richest governing body of cricket in the world. It proves that a sports body which is managed professionally can be self-reliant and does not need government funding. The other sports bodies in India have to better managed. Like Indian Premier League (IPL), other sports can also become popular among the spectators and television/electronic media. Essentially, we should popularise sports which can fetch Olympics medal for India.
The third lesson is about the leadership, both in the cricket team and the organising bodies. Unlike other sports like football and hockey, cricket captain has to be fully involved in the game, particularly in the limited overs format. The decision of the cricket captain impacts the outcome of the game very seriously. BCCI of course is professionally led and today an Indian is chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Indian cricket has different team composition and captain for each format of the game. Thus, in every competitive sphere in India, you need the most inspiring and committed leadership, with the backing of a solid organisation.
The fourth lesson is to take advantage of your core strength and maximise the dividends. The current victory of the Indian Cricket Team is largely guided by the excellent show by the four spinners. We all know that India produces the best spinners in the world. Indian team took the calculated risk of playing four spinners and this paid dividends, particularly in the crucial matches. In a similar way, India as a nation has to focus on the core strength of young population, good education system, respect for family values and hard work. These qualities are unique to India and the Indians can deliver the best results in every field.
The fifth lesson is unity and harmony amongst the Indians. Cricket really unites the Indians like no other sport and the whole nation prays for the victory of the Indian team. Indians passionately follow the game and criticise the cricket team when it fails to deliver. Thus, Indians value success and that is a great quality to possess that aspires to be a developed nation by the year 2047. Such deep interest in the affairs of cricket makes the cricket bodies in India and the Cricket teams accountable and responsive. Similarly, Indian citizens should take governance seriously. It is the duty of every Indian to be a conscientious citizen, aware of his rights and duties in equal measure.
Every now and then, we hear of unfortunate clashes during victory procession when India wins. It is unconceivable that some Indians are not happy with India’s win. Our leadership has to really get into the reasons for such divide, which possibly is an outcome of hostile indoctrination. A difference of opinion, particularly in a democracy is all right but to deride a victory of India may have serious ramifications. The comments on Mohammed Shami during the tournament was also unfortunate and unwarranted. The religious and responsible leaders of all the communities must condemn such acts in most vociferous terms. In addition, law of the land must take stern action against the defaulters.
The most important lesson from the current victory of the Indian Cricket Team is to dominate the world affairs. Pakistan was the host of Champions Trophy 2025 but India with its clout in the ICC was able to hold all its matches outside of Pakistan, in a neutral venue of Dubai. India could sideline Pakistan, as a sponsor of terrorism, as per its current diplomatic policy. India could achieve all this, because of its hold over the ICC and BCCI being the richest governing body in the world. Today’s world respects Might is Right and when a nation steadfastly defends its core policies and values. India should ultimately aim to emerge as the dominant power in the world as Vishv Guru.
India has emerged as the leader of the Global South under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation has embarked on the mission of Viksit Bharat @2047 under his stellar leadership. The aspirational India is seeking victory in every field, be it industry, agriculture, hospitality, service sector, IT, defence, space, startups or sports. It is my belief that the victory of Indian Cricket Team would motivate 140 crore Indians to dedicate themselves in the service of the nation. A united India, which thinks and acts alike would bring more victories for Bharat in every field. Jai Bharat!
