Category: Panel discussions

Mr. V J Raghunath and Mr. S Giridhar, both authors of the book “Mid-Wicket Tales” and representing the Azim Premji Foundation, were engaged in a conversation with Mr. T A Sekhar, Former Indian Cricketer, and Mr. S Ramakrishnan, Sports Analytics & CEO, SportsMechanics.

Mr Giridhar: When it comes to cricket, authentic leadership happens on the field. Cricket has become a phenomenon in India. BCCI is probably the biggest corporate in India. We have 500 million cricket lovers in this country, which is more than the population of most other countries. Besides what’s happening on the field, there is so much action that happens outside too like spotting, developing and nurturing talent and use of technology and data analytics. The line of fast bowlers that we see now is largely due to the efforts of MRF Pace Foundation, which was started a few decades ago. Sekhar has been involved with this foundation since its inception.  

Mr T A Sekhar: I joined the MRF Pace Foundation in 1988 as a coach. I had never been a coach before that. The Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee was the head coach and he is an authority on fast bowling. When he took up the challenge of training fast bowlers in India, there was a lot of criticism in the Indian press that Dennis Lillee had never played in India. They wondered how he could coach the Indian fast bowlers in India. The foundation was a great initiative by MRF. In 87, the late Ravi Memmen of MRF thought that Kapil Dev being our lone fast bowler, India needed good fast bowlers to bowl along with Kapil. His ultimate vision was that India should have a bench strength of eight to ten fast bowlers and that India should always tour abroad with four or five fast bowlers, of which minimum three fast bowlers should be from MRF.  It became a reality from 95- 96 onwards.

Dennis Lillee is a living Encyclopaedia on fast bowling. He rewrote the fast bowling technique for the English coaching manual in the mid-90s. He was the best fast bowling coach I have seen in my career.  The first fast bowler to play for India from MRF was Vivek Razdan who was picked for the Pakistan tour. On his debut series, in his second match, he got five wickets. Unfortunately, he didn’t play much after that due to some reasons. After that, a regular stream of fast bowlers started coming out from MRF- Venkatesh Prasad, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, R P Singh and so on. Srinath was not a regular trainee of the pace foundation. He was doing engineering and he used to come only when there was a break in his college curriculum. India today is more recognized for fast bowling than its spinners and that is largely due to the contribution of the MRF Pace Foundation. 

Mr Giridhar: Indian teamhas embraced change very well. It was not just Ganguly in the leadership role, but there was a group of leaders -Kumble, Dravid and Tendulkar. They listened to others. It’s critical to have a leadership team that embraces change. Today, sports analytics plays a very important part of life.   

Nowadays, when Indian team goes abroad, they boldly say that every pitch is like home ground and they take the pitch out of the equation. It is because we have an assembly line of many fast bowlers.  Sometimes a Kapil Dev comes despite the system and bowlers like Sreesanth come because of the system.

The Perth match of 2007 with Kumble leading India was one of our greatest wins. How Kumble and his team made that happen is a case study in itself. Similarly, Brisbane 2021 is one of our greatest test wins. Rahane displayed great leadership. Another interesting aspect of Indian team is that there has been a smooth transition from one captain to the other – from Ganguly to Dravid to Kumble to Dhoni to Kohli and to Rohit.

Mr Ramakrishnan: Without T A Sekhar, I wouldn’t have been where I am today. In 2009, I was a cricketer, aspiring to play for the country. I played for the junior state team and then, much against my wishes, got into banking. I joined Indian bank in the sports quota and played for Indian Bank for 13 years and then stopped playing. At 34, I was married and had two daughters. My neighbour started a payment gateway and he asked me if I could join them as a marketing manager. I didn’t like the banking environment which is not designed for high performance. So I resigned and joined the IT industry in 2000. After a month, the dot.com bubble burst happened and the payment gateway project was shelved. I was at the crossroads, having left the public sector job and lost my private sector job.  

Converging Sports & Tech

Henceforth, I decided to work on integrating sports and technology. In the initial stages, I looked at video motion analysis and then went on to introduce visual based coaching in India. That’s where T A Sekhar gave me an opportunity to work with the MRF Pace Foundation. I worked with Dennis Lillee and Sekhar and showed them what can be done. Initially, Lillee was sceptical of using software and technology in coaching but after I started producing results, he became a big fan of my work, which greatly augmented his coaching. 

From 2001 to 2003, I did a lot of analysis. We tried to sell licenses of the software but couldn’t. So I started providing services in sports and that really picked up. The coaches were happy doing their job as we could augment their coaching through feedback. There was an explosion of data. We captured that and provided to the athletes as feedback.  

Overcoming Resistance in Indian Team

Whereas in Indian cricket, they didn’t accept us. They made sarcastic remarks and tried to put me down, questioning the level of cricket I played. I told them that I have a great deal of respect for their skills and that I have a skill set which is different from theirs. The confidence of working with Dennis Lillee and Sekhar helped me. 

Indian Cricket coach John Wright asked me to make a presentation to the coaches on visual based coaching. Legends like Kirmani, Roger Binny, Kiran More and Prasanna were there. Originally, it was planned as a 45-minute session. But then, everybody liked the session and John Wright asked me to continue for the entire day. At the end of the presentation, he asked me to join the Indian team for a salary of 30K per month. No Indian would refuse the offer-though the money was less, I could rub shoulders with the greats in the dressing room. I was on board straightaway. 

French Fries and Samosas

When I joined the team, I asked Rahul Dravid about the kind of team meetings that happened. He said, “We all assemble in the coach’s room. French fries and samosas will be ordered. There will be an informal discussion for 5 minutes. We will say that the next day’s game is an important one and then disperse.”  I was surprised because even for the club games, we used to prepare better and here when national team met, the preparation was so informal.  

We went to Australia. It was my first tour with the Indian team. Sourav Ganguly was the captain. I asked Sourav how they prepare for the game. He said, “We all have played against each other and we will pass on the knowledge to the youngsters.” “Is there any data collector?” I asked and he said, “Nobody has done it so far.” I asked him if he knows anyone in ESPN and if he can get me the tapes of the Ashes series where Australia was beaten by England.  Sourav came to Australia, armed with 25 VHS tapes. I took them and spent my first week in Australia, fully locked in my room. I didn’t see the outside of Australia. I was working inside my room, digitizing those 25 VHS tapes and mining for information. For the first time in the history of Indian cricket, competitive intelligence was provided in a visual manner. 

Strategies from Data Analytics

While I was working with Sekhar and Lillee, I learned a lot about the nuances and biomechanics of fast bowling. But at the level of the Indian team, it’s strategy and gameplay, that will help the team to win. Wright told me, “Ramki, if I change somebody’s technique, nobody’s going to extend my contract. It will be extended only if I win the series, for which I must focus on gameplay and strategy.”

To derive strategies from data, I started collecting the data. The only way I could satisfy John Wright was to have a back-end data centre, recording all the videos. We were the first ones to have an exclusive back-end data centre. India is a hub of technology and we make the world follow what we do. The whole world is looking at what we are doing. We get great support from all the people- coaches, selectors and players.  We broke the myth that only Indian cricketers who played the game at the highest level can contribute to the team. We came up with a different concept of using data and analytics in coaching.

Mr Raghunath: Besides the action and technique in fast bowling, now they spend a lot of time on players’ fitness and diet and also ensure that fast bowlers don’t get injured.

Mr Sekhar: There was a time when the Indian team warm up used to be just five minutes. On fitness, we have learnt a lot from Australia, England and South Africa. Every player knows the importance of warm up warm, down, what exercises one should do and how to recover from injuries. Diet is a critical part of fitness. Balanced and proper diet helps in reducing muscle injuries. Tennis players like Djokovic or Nadal have personal dieticians and they also have a personal trainer. They spend a part of their earnings on coaching. Modern day sportspersons recover faster from injuries and see to it that their longevity in the field is enhanced. At the same time, they enjoy the performance on the field.

Mr Giridhar: Players must constantly reflect on their performance to improve themselves. Every good school teacher is a reflective practitioner. They help the children to be a better learner today than yesterday. Virat Kohli is a great leader. In 2014, he couldn’t score runs off Anderson. Then he reflected on his game, made infinitely important adjustments and in 2018, he was probably one of the finest batsmen of the seasons. He is very particular about fitness and diet. Thanks to leaders like him, the concept of fitness has percolated to Under-19 level too.  A leader inspires when needed- sometimes, being there in the front and sometimes, right at the back.

Former England captain Mike Brearley was a very average batsman but he was one of the greatest ever cricket captains. He was able to make sure that the gestalt happened- that the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. He could differentiate his handling of Willis and Ian Botham. Indian fielding coach R. Sridhar once said that one has to deal with Bumrah differently from the way one deals with Mohammed Shami. You have to wind up Shami, so that he becomes a terror on the ground. With Bumrah, you have to be careful because he’s very sensitive.   

Mr Ramakrishnan: Different captains have different leadership styles. For instance, Sourav Ganguly was a fantastic and a very strong leader. He had a command over the players, because he fought for the players’ rights and privileges and got them.  John Wright and Ganguly were the chief architects of high performance of the Indian team. They laid down the foundation for the cricket team to turn around. They followed work ethics. There was no north- south divide or senior players -junior players divide. Everybody was equal. The senior players went out of the way to make sure the juniors talked and share their opinions in tam meetings. Players came prepared for team meetings, with questions to be asked. Dhoni follows a very different leadership style. Both strongly believe that nothing is impossible. 

In Australia, everybody including the former players and media try to wear down the Indians mentally.  They used to put us on the Perth pitch, with the bounciest wicket, beat you in three days’ time and then, orchestrate their win. Normally, it is a 93-day tour. The players are 93 days away from their homes, their food and their culture. On the contrary, when Australians come to India, they play the test series, take a break, go to Singapore, relax and then come back for the T20 ODI series. But these days, India fights every session closely.

Mr Giridhar: Leaders must have innate courage and try innovative approaches.   

I recall in the 92 World Cup, Martin Crowe opened the batting with Greatbatch, who had never opened before that. Also, Deepak Patel, the spinner, opened the bowling for them. Ranatunga of Sri Lanka was also a very shrewd captain.

Mr Ramakrishnan: Fear of failure worries most players. When they fail, they come and watch their videos. I tell them, “Everybody analyses failure. Come and see the videos where you have achieved success; when you scored a century.” When they watch them fail, their anxiety levels are very high. Everybody wants to reaffirm that everything is right with them. Learning from success is more important than learning from failures. 

I recall that Sehwag scored a triple century in Pakistan and he dedicated it to me. When he was not scoring runs in Test cricket, I analysed his videos and noticed a change in his stance. I just brought it to his awareness. He corrected it and went on to score 300 runs. Though he dedicated it to me, that performance would not have happened without Sachin at the other end. Partnerships change the course of cricket.  

Mr Giridhar: Cricket is a game that consists of players with diverse skills and backgrounds. They come from different cultural backgrounds. Particularly, IPL has helped in players adapting to these diversities with foreign players playing in all the teams. 

Can there be a comparison between a cricket player’s career and a corporate career? Not really because, in a corporate career, when you fail, only a few people are aware of it. But in a game of cricket, when you fail, lakhs of people watch you. The pressure of playing is far higher than working in a corporate. You may get adulation and money while playing cricket but you can play only till you are 33 or 34. Some of them who are articulate enough, go to the media and some of them get into coaching, but that is a very small population. Imagine that out of 140 crore people, only 20 get to play test cricket for the nation. One failure with the bat or ball, you can be consigned to the reserves.  So there can be no comparison, at least for an Indian cricketer, with any other corporate profession. In the corporate, you have annual appraisals whereas Indian cricketers get daily appraisals done by 140 crore Indians.

Mr. S R Ramanan, Former Director of the Cyclone Warning Centre in Chennai; Dr. S Janakarajan, President of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies (SaciWATERs) based in Hyderabad; and Mr. T Kanthimathinathan, an expert on Water Resources, shared their insights on the water scenario in Tamilnad.

Mr. N Sathiya Moorthy

Apart from the rains in Chennai, this time we experienced heavy rainfall in the southern districts, which was unexpected. Tuticorin district, in particular, received very heavy rainfall. It is notable that people in Tuticorin typically do not welcome rains due to their reliance on salt and brick kiln industries, as rainfall can adversely affect their business.

Regarding the recurring issue of floods in Chennai, it is regrettable to observe that even after numerous decades of experiencing heavy rains, floods, and cyclones, we as citizens have not adequately learned our lessons. There is a tendency to shift blame onto whichever government is in power and to lament the lack of essential supplies such as milk, provisions, and electricity during periods of heavy rainfall.

Traditionally, every October first, I would stock essential items in my household, including matches and candles, in preparation for the rainy season. Despite knowing the history of floods in certain regions, individuals continue to purchase land and apartments in flood-prone areas. While it is true that the government sanctions such construction, we cannot solely rely on the government to manage all aspects of rescue and relief operations. In hindsight, it may be acknowledged that the government could have handled the recent flood situation slightly better. However, citizens also bear a social responsibility in such situations.

Mr. S R Ramanan:

Let me begin with the northeast monsoon. For rain or low pressure to form, winds from different hemispheres must merge. From the southern hemisphere, the easterlies cross the equator and become westerly, constituting the southwest monsoon. These winds interact with the easterlies of the northern hemisphere, leading to circulation. A single circle denotes low pressure; two, depression; three, deep depression; and four, cyclone. The convergence of air masses from different hemispheres creates low pressure, marked by the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

North of this zone, winds originate from the east, while south of it, winds come from the west. During the northeast monsoon, low pressure typically forms in the South China Sea, crossing the Malay Peninsula into the Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a cyclonic storm or, sometimes, a low-pressure system affecting our region. However, this year, such occurrences were absent. Despite Cyclone Michaung’s presence, no significant low-pressure systems developed. This made the monsoon season unique. The formation of a trough, another source of rainfall, also did not occur this year, unlike in 2007 when it brought widespread rain to Tamil Nadu.

The Upper Air Circulation

So, how did Tamil Nadu receive rainfall? Initially, air masses from various water bodies—Cape Comorin, Gulf of Mannar, and Bay of Bengal—converged over South Tamil Nadu, bringing significant rainfall. Occasionally, upper air troughs bring rain primarily to coastal areas, but this too was absent this year. Instead, easterly and south easterly winds dominated. An upper air circulation over the southwest bay, as mentioned in the official weather bulletins, contributed to rain along the coast. But the interior districts did not get adequate rains.

The formation of Cyclone Michaung, which approached Chennai, resulted in torrential rains. It did not cross Tamil Nadu but passed near Andhra Pradesh, wreaking havoc there. The upper air, steering atmospheric disturbances, came from the southeasterly direction, a rare occurrence.

Following the mid-tropospheric cyclone, characterized by its upper-level nature at a height of 1.5 kilometers, coastal Tamil Nadu experienced strong winds reaching speeds of up to 20 nautical miles per hour in certain areas, equivalent to 36 kilometers per hour. This led to copious rainfall across Tamil Nadu. Convergence of air masses facilitated the influx of moisture into south coastal Tamil Nadu, extending to the southern interior regions.

Cloud formations reached heights of 14 to 15 kilometers, indicative of the mid-tropospheric cyclone, which remains invisible at the surface. It is noteworthy that while the southeast monsoon is typically observed in states like Gujarat, its occurrence in our region is indeed a rarity. While rainfall was abundant in southern and northernmost districts, many regions experienced normal or below-normal rainfall. North interior Tamil Nadu faced particularly adverse conditions, resulting in agricultural challenges, especially in districts like Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, heavily reliant on southwest monsoon rainfall.

Weather Prediction Models

Our weather forecasts rely on global models, which are typically more reliable in extra-tropical regions than in tropical areas. While forecasting in the tropics remains challenging, significant advancements have been made. Even in advanced countries like the United States, for tornadoes in tropical areas like Florida, they provide only a 40-minute advance notice, highlighting the difficulty of prediction in such regions.

These models excel in forecasting weather phenomena in the northern part of the United States, where weather systems are influenced by fronts—when cold air meets warm air, creating dynamic weather patterns. Winds predominantly blow unidirectionally from west to east in these regions, making predictions relatively straightforward. However, applying such models to forecast weather movements from, for instance, London to Paris is vastly different from forecasting weather across the entirety of India, particularly in tropical regions.

Despite the challenges, significant advancements have been made in global weather modelling. Institutions like the European Center provide forecasts for the entire world, while America utilizes the Global Forecast System (GFS) model for global predictions. India also leverages the GFS model, which is freely accessible and operational in various centers such as New Delhi and Pune. Additionally, both global and regional models are employed to enhance forecasting accuracy.

Reflecting on past events, in 2006, Bombay experienced significant rainfall, with Santa Cruz recording 93.5 centimeters. It underscores the importance of ensuring unhindered water flow to mitigate flooding risks. States like Kerala and cities like Mumbai have made preparedness for heavy rains. So implementing measures to manage water flow effectively and minimising the impact of inundation or flooding is a very important process of flood mitigation.

Dr S Janakarajan

We’ve witnessed numerous floods over the years, and the intensity of their impact appears to be increasing annually. Take, for example, the 2015 flood, widely regarded as one of the worst in 47 years. The increasing severity of floods prompts many to attribute it to climate change.

A crucial factor contributing to this trend is rapid urbanization. Urban expansion occurs at an alarming rate, often without careful planning. It’s important to recognize the intrinsic link between land and water, as they are closely interconnected. With unchecked urban growth, compounded by rapid industrialization, we’re witnessing the loss of land, agricultural areas, and crucial hydrological pathways.

Need for Integrated Planning

The encroachment upon these hydrological pathways worsens the situation. Areas previously unaffected by floods are now experiencing inundation due to this interference. It’s essential for all of us to acknowledge our collective responsibility in this regard. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive planning and concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization on hydrological systems.

When water flows uncontrollably, we label it as a flood; however, when it stagnates in an area, we term it inundation. Poor urban planning and a narrow focus solely on development can have catastrophic consequences. Such approaches can result in severe floods and ecological degradation, exerting immense pressure on both present and future economies. It’s crucial to prioritize urban land use planning. Mere enactment of laws isn’t sufficient; stringent enforcement is required.

Despite having our first master plan and nearing completion of the second master plan by 2026, with plans for a third, it’s disheartening to note that we haven’t adequately learned from past experiences. We seem to repeat the same mistakes without applying the lessons gathered from previous plans. This lack of progress affects our ability to effectively address the challenges posed by urbanization and mitigate the risks of future floods and environmental degradation.

Every master plan should include the delineation of ecological hotspots such as streams, floodplains, water bodies, and wetlands—both inland and coastal. Developmental activities must be strictly prohibited in these areas to preserve their ecological integrity. Unfortunately, this crucial aspect has often been overlooked in past plans, leading to adverse consequences. It remains uncertain whether this will be addressed in the upcoming third master plan.

Failure to protect critical ecological zones has resulted in dire outcomes, as witnessed in the Ennore region, where extensive encroachment on coastal wetlands has led to flooding, extending even to north Chennai. The Pallikaranai marshland, which historically spanned 54 square kilometers, has been reduced to a mere 10% of its original size due to encroachment. The marshland serves as a vital flood buffer, but its loss has contributed to the worsening flood situation in the area.

An integrated approach is urgently needed, one that considers land management, water management, flood management, and drought management comprehensively. Efforts must focus on conserving water at its source and protecting both upstream and downstream watersheds. Only through such holistic measures can we effectively address the challenges posed by urbanization and mitigate the impacts of flooding and environmental degradation.

Way Forward

Master Plans must undergo thorough review, with a specific focus on declaring ecological hotspots. Furthermore, these plans should be integrated with drainage master plans to ensure effective water management. Ad-hoc construction of stormwater drains must be strictly prohibited, and layout approvals should only be granted after considering the drainage master plan.

Efforts to conserve water at its source are paramount, as they offer numerous benefits including flood mitigation, enhancing climate resilience, and facilitating the development of climate-smart cities. This can be achieved through initiatives such as tank restoration, desilting, deepening, and increasing capacity.

Implementing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) within urban areas and the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) is essential. This includes the creation of water detention ponds, constructed wetlands, temple tanks, green parks, urban forests, green roofs, and mangroves. Additionally, there must be a concerted effort to protect natural wetlands, both inland and coastal, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

Mr T Kanthimathinathan

The focus of urban planners often leans heavily towards development without due consideration for water flow management. Many areas in Chennai, such as Mambalam, Nungambakkam, and Nandambakkam, were once lakes. Most errors happened because of flawed land use policy. Many agricultural lands got converted to other uses.  I had personally overseen 20,000 cusecs of water release from Chembarambakkam lake, when I was in office. At that time, there was no flooding, simply because the floodplains were intact.

However, encroachments on floodplains have become increasingly common. Take for example, the Housing Board in Kotturpuram. It is a government construction on the floodplains. Areas like Manapakkam and Nandambakkam were also floodplains. These are expensive areas but when there is flooding, water levels rise up to window lintel levels in these areas.

It is important to implement a master drainage plan before embarking on any urban development initiatives. However, many lands necessary for water flow are owned by private individuals, who have obtained approvals and puttas for development. These floodplains were historically designated as agricultural lands even during British rule, aimed at boosting productivity. Post-independence, importance was given first to green revolution and subsequently to housing drives. However, waterway considerations took a backseat.

Unlike states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, which benefit from the Deccan Plateau terrain conducive to reservoir construction, Tamil Nadu predominantly consists of plains, limiting such opportunities. Hence, our ancestors constructed over 45 minor irrigation tanks, which are now neglected and often filled. The development of areas like Lake View Road, Valluvar Kottam, Nungambakkam, Mogappair, and Padi happened in this manner only.

‘Out of the Boat’ Solutions

As we have neglected waterbodies and other flood prevention measures, now we have to defend ourselves against future floods. For this, it’s crucial to have reliable flood alert and early warning system, along with an effective response mechanism. The government has undertaken various mitigation measures, no doubt. But we can place more emphasis on converting water bodies into navigation canals. When there is a flood, our people find it difficult even to get onto a boat as they are not used to boat travel. If we can, for instance, convert Buckingham Canal into a navigation canal, it could offer cheap and eco-friendly travel from Thiruvanmiyur to Mahabalipuram. When we can construct metro rail systems, we can also look at navigation canals. Implementing water-based transportation systems akin to those in Kerala, could offer viable solutions for daily commute from Velachery to Sholinganallur in boats.