In Education, as in Cricket, the Basics are Losing Ground
In the recent Test series against New Zealand, Indian cricket faced an uncomfortable truth. Our batters, accustomed to the explosive ethos of T20, struggled to adapt to the traditional demands of Test cricket — patience, discipline, and resilience. This transition from power hitting to defensive technique was too steep for a generation trained to entertain rather than endure. In education, too, we’re witnessing a similar shift. Just as batters have neglected the “soft hands” needed to survive a tough pitch, students are increasingly unprepared for the plain vanilla roles that are the backbone of India’s economic engine.
Today, students gravitate toward high-profile jobs in startups, finance, consulting, or tech — the equivalent of a T20 match, where there’s constant action, glamour, and short-term rewards. It’s as if everyone wants to be the next IPL star, hitting sixes with every swing. But what about the solid, reliable roles in manufacturing, logistics, public sector management, and rural development? These may lack the sheen of a glamorous title or a swanky office but are essential to keeping the wheels of the economy turning. Much like the uncelebrated job of leaving a ball outside the off-stump, these roles demand patience, precision, and commitment. These are also the roles that students need to pick up to learn the basics and prep them for better things to come later on in their career.
Imagine a batsman who can’t defend against a fast bowler on a tricky pitch. His aggressive instincts, honed in the T20 arena, may be thrilling to watch but don’t hold up in the longer format. In the same way, students trained only for the high-stakes corporate world find it hard to navigate the steady, systematic roles that our economy depends on. They lack the foundational skills that allow them to tackle complex, slow-burn challenges. The ability to “play the long innings” is eroding, replaced by a desire for quick success and instant gratification.
The irony is that just as Test cricket demands mastery over technique and a balance of aggression and patience, real success in many of these foundational sectors comes from a deep understanding of local contexts, humility to work with grassroots challenges, and the maturity to appreciate gradual progress. But today’s graduates, much like IPL stars reluctant to adapt to Test cricket, often overlook these roles. They seek the spotlight, preferring the high-scoring opportunities, while the low-key, resilient innings — the ones that power the nation’s core industries — are increasingly left unplayed.
So, what can be done? Just as India’s cricket system is recognizing the need to instill the art of defense back into its players, education needs to reintroduce the importance of traditional, foundational careers. Students should understand that it’s not just the glamorous roles that define success; sometimes, it’s about contributing to the country’s “first-class economy,” where stability, consistency, and endurance are valued as much as big scores.
In both cricket and education, we need to remind the next generation that there’s as much pride in being a “Test player” — someone who can defend, strategize, and contribute steadily — as there is in hitting a T20 six. After all, it’s these steady, dependable roles that ensure our nation stands strong through every economic pitch it faces.
