By Ekantika Iyer
Estimated reading time : 5-7 mins
In the 48th match of IPL 2020 held at Abu Dhabi between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, we saw a glimpse of a stronger comeback, class batting and a quality bowling from both the teams. Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to field first. The decision was however a little dicey according to the fans as the previous results of chasing did not favour much to the team. Also it was a match between the top two teams in the points table. With quality teams on both the ends we were definitely in for a spectacular match.
In the first innings, RCB batted extremely well as they scored 54 runs in the powerplay itself and built the pressure on the Mumbai bowling unit. With both the batsman getting the momentum it was difficult for the Mumbai Indians bowlers to restrict them but it was also important take that wicket. Once they got the breakthrough, we saw some quality bowling from Jasprit Bumrah who picked up 3 wickets in 4 overs and conceded just 14 runs with one double wicket maiden over. His bowling spell turned the game to their favour. With other bowlers in the bowling unit doing the best to restrict the runs and the current captain (Pollard) stepping in to bowl an over and picking up that crucial wicket of AB de Villiers, we saw a good comeback from the team and restricted RCB to 164 runs in 20 overs. Devdutt Padikkal (74 runs in 45 balls ), and Josh Philippe ( 33 runs in 24 balls) were the key players for RCB who dominated the power play and made sure to set a higher run chase for Mumbai Indians.
In the second innings, we saw some good bowling from the RCB bowling unit as they restricted Mumbai Indians to just 45 runs with one wicket down in the powerplay itself. RCB bowling unit was performing extremely well. They took down some crucial wickets early which turned the game in their favour only till one of the the middle order batsman of Mumbai Indians, Surya Kumar Yadav stepped up to the challenge and gave his best. This was one of his best knock (79* in 43 balls) and he slowed down the game in the middle in order to not lose wickets. We saw a glimpse of emotions in the field in the last few overs. His composure under the pressure created by RCB, talked a lot about his character as a cricketer. His knock was a treat to the eyes and all the cricket fans out there loved watching him play. Mohammed Siraj (3.1-0-28-2) and Yuzvendra chahal (4-0-37-2) along with Chris Morris (4-0-36-1) picked up some crucial wickets for the team. We also saw some good bowling from Dale Steyn and Washington Sundar.
In the past few blogs we have been discussing about role of stress, intrinsic & extrinsic motivation, determination and how it guides our performance. (Check out the previous blogs to read more by clicking the link below) https://beyondthematches.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/rr-vs-mi-match-45-ipl-2020-the-power-of-determination-and-motivation/ https://beyondthematches.wordpress.com/2020/10/24/csk-vs-mi-match-41-ipl-2020-the-sun-sets-for-one-rises-for-another-at-the-same-time/
Individuals realize when they suffer from stress, but it is difficult to measure the amount of stress a person can endure. In a stressful situation, a person reacts by fight or flight response (face or run away/escape from the situation) – in which responding to it and facing it helps us to produce more strength, energy, and increases our focus. It is good to practice this technique when you are facing a stressful situation. There are people who can be calm and composed during a stressful situation. These kind of people tend to have positive stress tolerance. These people focus on things analytically and in a composed manner. They usually do not get carried away by negative emotions such as helplessness or hopelessness. They are able to withstand or may even thrive in high-pressure situations. They become more productive than they usually are, and thus taking stressful situations as a challenge.
We saw the same in the game yesterday when Surya Kumar Yadav stepped up and faced the pressure and performed beautifully !!
People having high level of stress tolerance are a support system for those people who find it difficult to withstand uncertainty. There various techniques which are helpful in building stress tolerance:
- Paying attention- Pay attention to your body when it’s giving you signals about your stress tolerance. Everybody has a different level of tolerance. Signals such as experiencing tension on the back, neck, shoulder, fatigue, frequent headaches, etc. are often present. When you are experiencing these kinds of signals, the body is asking you to slow down.
- Listing your priorities- There are situations wherein you are asked to do multi-tasking and there is too much on your plate, and you have no idea from where to start! The feeling of confusion also contributes in building up stress. Thus, it is important to make a priority list of your duties from high to least priority tasks.
- Take on one issue at a time – When you focus on multiple issues at the same time, it becomes difficult to identify the starting point. But by taking every issue step by step in a structured manner it will give you time and space to think and act.
- Take some time out – Continuous working will lead to stiffness and spams which are signs that the body is in distress. It is important to give your body some rest and space to rejuvenate. For example, going for a walk, practicing any sport or meditation, indulging yourself in your favourite hobby
Key takeaways from this game:
- Having a good stress tolerance helps in performing better under stressful situations.
- Responding to stress is better than reacting to stress.