With Dilshan’s retirement we will see the departure of the last one standing in Sri Lanka cricket who started the game in last century under the leadership of legends like Arjuna & Aravinda. Dilly, was local, yet one of the few Sri Lankan personalities with un-Sri Lankan aggression. He was the fighter brand of Sri Lanka Cricket Team. He was an entertainer, much better than some of the actors or even actresses you find in local soap operas. He was the Maldivian fish flake you find in Sri Lankan ever popular coconut sambol. He was the “Rambari” to Sri Lanka Cricket.
He was all in all – the magic box of Sri Lankan Cricket. If you needed a batsman, you will get one. If you needed a spinner, you will get one. If you needed a top class fielder, you will get one. If you needed a wicket keeper, you will get one.
As a close follower of Sri Lanka cricket, let me share some of the business learnings I was able to gain from this Sri Lankan cricket great.
Opportunity Identification
With the diminish of Sanath Jayasooriya from Sri Lankan cricket, there was a huge vacuum created for a reliable explosive opening batsman. Dilly, saw the opportunity and turned himself to an opener from a middle order batsman. The opportunity identification paid the dividends to him and crafted some of the most memorable knocks we can recall as Sri Lankans.
Opposite captains make sure they cover most of the areas where you like to score runs. BUT, Dilshan saw the opportunity behind the keeper and the outcome is DILSCOOP; the only shot in cricketing history syncs with a player’s name.
As we all know, it is critical for modern day businesses to identify opportunities at the right time to make the maximum use of it.
Calculated Risk Taking
Anyone who has followed cricket would know how risky it is to be an opener. The risk would be more, if you have played as a middle order batsman for more 10 years. Dilshan was open for the risk and the return is quite clear for anyone who followed cricket for last 7 years.
Scooping a ball, you get from a fast baller is risky with a very high possibility the ball striking your face. Dilly made it look so easy and he made sure he had his risks mitigated when executing the DILSCOOP
Changed with the market dynamics
T20 cricket got its momentum with India winning the T20 Word Cup held in 2007. The whole cricket world embraced the new shorter format just life a newly born child. It was entertaining. Being a cricketer who placed the first steps in last century, T20 was extremely novel and fast for Dilshan. Yet he was flexible, he changed himself, gifting us some of the most memorable T20 innings and World Twenty20 Player of the Series in 2009.
As organizations, we will have to change with market dynamics. As executives in corporate word we have to change ourselves in different situations. Change will enable to sustain in the longer run.
Innovation
It is difficult to find a cricket shot with high guarantee of runs. The need for runs supported with innovative mind created the DILSCOOP. It was risky, which is always associated with innovations, yet it was productive.
In the business world today, we hear, read
and see about innovations more than ever in the history. Be it a product development, market development or diversification, innovation has been a key foundation pillar for sustainable success. With the invent of DILSCOOP, Dilly made the competition irrelevant just like underlying foundation of Blue Ocean strategy.
Commitment
Even at the age of 39, Dilshan was electrifying in the field, giving a very good run to young blokes out there. He was commitment in maintaining his physical condition. He was still quick in running between the wickets.
Commitment to work has been one of key traits every organization seek from its team members. When organizations compete with each other in dynamic business environment, the team who is commitment always has a high chance of being success.
Finally
Everyone will miss Dilshan in the game of cricket. It will be interesting to see how he positions himself in future. But the lessons he has taught for the world are immense. Not many would have seen his contributions in the world of cricket to be lessons for life.
Source
He was all in all – the magic box of Sri Lankan Cricket. If you needed a batsman, you will get one. If you needed a spinner, you will get one. If you needed a top class fielder, you will get one. If you needed a wicket keeper, you will get one.
As a close follower of Sri Lanka cricket, let me share some of the business learnings I was able to gain from this Sri Lankan cricket great.
Opportunity Identification
With the diminish of Sanath Jayasooriya from Sri Lankan cricket, there was a huge vacuum created for a reliable explosive opening batsman. Dilly, saw the opportunity and turned himself to an opener from a middle order batsman. The opportunity identification paid the dividends to him and crafted some of the most memorable knocks we can recall as Sri Lankans.
Opposite captains make sure they cover most of the areas where you like to score runs. BUT, Dilshan saw the opportunity behind the keeper and the outcome is DILSCOOP; the only shot in cricketing history syncs with a player’s name.
As we all know, it is critical for modern day businesses to identify opportunities at the right time to make the maximum use of it.
Calculated Risk Taking
Anyone who has followed cricket would know how risky it is to be an opener. The risk would be more, if you have played as a middle order batsman for more 10 years. Dilshan was open for the risk and the return is quite clear for anyone who followed cricket for last 7 years.
Scooping a ball, you get from a fast baller is risky with a very high possibility the ball striking your face. Dilly made it look so easy and he made sure he had his risks mitigated when executing the DILSCOOP
Changed with the market dynamics
T20 cricket got its momentum with India winning the T20 Word Cup held in 2007. The whole cricket world embraced the new shorter format just life a newly born child. It was entertaining. Being a cricketer who placed the first steps in last century, T20 was extremely novel and fast for Dilshan. Yet he was flexible, he changed himself, gifting us some of the most memorable T20 innings and World Twenty20 Player of the Series in 2009.
As organizations, we will have to change with market dynamics. As executives in corporate word we have to change ourselves in different situations. Change will enable to sustain in the longer run.
Innovation
It is difficult to find a cricket shot with high guarantee of runs. The need for runs supported with innovative mind created the DILSCOOP. It was risky, which is always associated with innovations, yet it was productive.
In the business world today, we hear, read
and see about innovations more than ever in the history. Be it a product development, market development or diversification, innovation has been a key foundation pillar for sustainable success. With the invent of DILSCOOP, Dilly made the competition irrelevant just like underlying foundation of Blue Ocean strategy.
Commitment
Even at the age of 39, Dilshan was electrifying in the field, giving a very good run to young blokes out there. He was commitment in maintaining his physical condition. He was still quick in running between the wickets.
Commitment to work has been one of key traits every organization seek from its team members. When organizations compete with each other in dynamic business environment, the team who is commitment always has a high chance of being success.
Finally
Everyone will miss Dilshan in the game of cricket. It will be interesting to see how he positions himself in future. But the lessons he has taught for the world are immense. Not many would have seen his contributions in the world of cricket to be lessons for life.
Source
