The 3 Ds

The 3 Ds

by Isa Farid

As a kid, Sachin Tendulkar was athletic but he didn’t consider playing cricket at an academy until his older brother, Ajit, saw his talent and told him to start proper training. Ajit was also the only one in Tendulkar’s family that played cricket. Early in his career, Tendulkar played a lot of Ranji trophy cricket (Ranji trophy is one of India's domestic cricket tournaments) for Bombay. He made his international debut against Pakistan in 1989 in the first Test of the four match series which ended in a draw with none of the teams winning a game.

Tendulkar is naturally gifted with incredible head control and hand eye coordination. While these gifts are important, they are not the sole reason why his career spanned 24 years. On top of maintaining physical strength, Tendulkar also maintains mental strength which is key in being a focused sports player. But what really made Tendulkar stay relevant for 24 years is that he evolved with the game. After a game he would ask his coach what he could improve and what he should continue doing. He always saw room for improvement.

The 3 Ds from Tendulkar's life:

Determination : In the 1997 ODI against West Indies, Tendulkar was wrongfully given caught behind after the ball hit him on the shoulder. However, Tendulkar didn't start arguing with the umpire. He brushed it off and was determined to do his best for the remainder of the match.
Discipline : Tendulkar was very disciplined and practiced every day by hitting five hundred balls
Dedication : Tendulkar didn’t just play a game of cricket- he lived and breathed every aspect of the game. He even respected his gear and would never throw it on the floor in frustration.


How can YOU apply the 3 Ds in your academic life?

You've got to be the bee. The bee has a plan- every day, he has to collect a certain amount of nectar by sunset. Then, it hasH to rest for more work the next day. You can apply this to your school work. For example your teacher gives you a project which is due in two weeks. Instead of doing the entire project the night before, set aside 30 minutes everyday. For those 30 minutes, give it your full attention and best effort. Just like the bee. That way you will have an amazing project and the bee will have yummy honey.