T20 Life: The Art Of Playing Every Ball On Its Merit

Let’s face it, we live in a world drowning in advice. From TED Talks and podcasts to Instagram reels promising “10 Habits of Ultra-Productive People”, everyone’s selling life strategies like they’re hot samosas at a railway station.

Amidst this wisdom overload, allow me to bring forth something refreshingly simple yet sneakily profound, a lesson not from a monk on a mountain but from a batter in neon shoes: T20 cricket. Yes, that short, sharp, sugar-rush format of the game that makes purists squirm and fans squeal. Behind its fireworks and frenzy, T20 is a crash course in life management—intent, precision, awareness, agility, and, most importantly, presence.

But unlike cricket, life doesn’t offer extra overs. There’s no Duckworth-Lewis to rescue you from rain, no impact substitute, and no second innings. If anything, you might get a Super Over, a final scramble to make things count, but mostly it’s 20 metaphorical overs of chaos, charm, and clutch decisions. What you do with each ball, is entirely up to you.

No Impact Substitution in Life: You're the Player, Umpire, and Coach

In life, there’s no “Send in Virat; I’ll sit this one out.” You face every beamer, bouncer, and awkward full-toss head-on. Alone. No replacement. No stand-in. It’s just you versus the pitch, with all its unpredictable bounce.

You’re also the CEO of “I Incorporated”. Strategy meetings, performance reviews, energy budgets, motivational speeches in front of the mirror—it’s all you. Sure, you can delegate chores and maybe outsource grocery shopping, but not accountability. You write your own scoreboard. Better keep the run rate ticking.

Life Is a Team Sport (Even If You Think You're MS Dhoni)

T20 may look like a batter’s paradise, but try winning without a tight fielding unit or bowlers who don’t gift 14-run overs. Similarly, life is built on invisible assists—supportive friends, coffee-sharing colleagues, and that one friend who always forwards you job links “just in case”.

Mentors? They’re like head coaches. They don’t play the match, but they shape your mindset. If you’re lucky, they also stop you from making a glorious mess of your life decisions. Respect them—they’ve faced more yorkers than you’ve seen Instagram ads for meditation apps.

Every Ball Is a Choice—So Make One

Each delivery in a T20 is a possibility: a six, a dot, a wicket, or a quick single that saves the match. Life, too, hands you constant choices—jobs, cities, relationships, wardrobes (the real minefield). But here's the catch: you must decide.

Indecision is not a strategy; it’s the cricketing equivalent of leaving your bat dangling mid-air. Take the call. You’ll occasionally slog and miss. Or worse, get out hit-wicket in the most embarrassing way. But that’s still better than watching your innings fizzle out while waiting for a sign from the universe (or HR).

Reviews Are Reflection, Not Regret

DRS (Decision Review System) isn’t about “proving the umpire wrong” as much as “Did I read this right?” Life, too, deserves periodic reviews—not overthinking, but realignment. Pause, rewind, reflect. That awkward breakup? A lesson in self-worth. That rejected proposal? Redirection. A time when you thought crypto investment would make you rich? Comic relief.

Just remember, like cricket, reviews are limited. Don’t keep obsessively rewinding your past. Learn. Realign. Then get back to playing the next ball on merit—not memory.

Mind the Run Rate—But Don’t Lose the Plot

In T20, the run rate is gospel. You may have talent, but if you don’t score, you choke. Life’s run rate? Progress. Movement. Momentum. It doesn’t mean you become a hustle junkie, but check your pace. Are you moving toward meaning or just surviving Mondays?

And remember, context matters. Sometimes, a strike rate of 100 is perfectly respectable. Other times, you’ve got to channel your inner Suryakumar Yadav and start scooping for boundaries. Be aware. Don’t mimic someone else’s tempo. Play your game.

Powerplays: When Life Gives You Gaps, Go for It

In T20, the first six overs, the powerplay, are gold. Fewer fielders are out. There are more gaps to exploit. Life has similar windows: your 20s, a sabbatical, a year without health issues, and a phase with fewer responsibilities. Don’t waste these powerplays overanalysing or bingeing “13 reasons why you can’t do anything”.

Go big. Build momentum. A solid start in the powerplay often sets up the entire match.

Pacing: Know When to Nudge and When to Launch

Not every over is for boundaries. Some phases in life are for consolidation. Savings. Learning. Healing. And then, out of the blue, life tosses you that juicy half-volley—you’ll know it. That’s your cue to go full send.

Pacing is wisdom. Recklessness is just disguised panic. Build your innings so that when the slog overs come, you’re not limping. You’re flying.

Stay in the Present—But Keep an Eye on the Scoreboard

T20 is the ultimate ‘now-game’. If you dwell on the previous over, you lose your wicket. If you stress about the 20th over, you miss the ball in front of you. But the best players? They play the moment while staying aware of the bigger picture—the target, the field placements, the weather pattern, and the commentators' opinions.

Life is no different. Be present. But plan.

Mindfulness without foresight is just glorified daydreaming.

Practice Isn’t Glamorous—But It’s What Gets You There

Behind every ramp shot or knuckleball are hours of sweaty nets, muscle memory, and a coach shouting, “Again!” You don’t stumble into excellence. You grind into it. Build your life muscle. Find your people. Listen to them. And practise—not to impress, but to be ready when your moment comes.

Horses for the courses. Read the Pitch.

Every situation is different. Even though the rules remain the same, external elements, like the pitch and hour of the game, setting the target, or chasing, will require reconfiguring resources for the best results.

What Got You Here- Will Not Take You There.

The game is evolving, the parameters are constantly shifting, and the expectations are redefined. You need to adapt and be a step ahead. What made you successful three years back may not work today. Past performance, like life, is never a guarantee of future returns.

Final Over: Play Bold. Play Smart. Play True.

Life is a T20 match, short, chaotic, thrilling, and brutally honest, with no second innings. No do-overs. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in intensity. Every moment counts. Every ball is yours to claim.

So, take the strike. Own your innings. Respect your team. Learn to trust your choices. And always play every ball on its merit.

In this game called life, you are both the star and the scoreboard.

Sanjeev Kotnala is a brand and marketing consultant, writer, coach and mentor.

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