peddiniz

The mumbai team is billed as the costliest team of the IPL. Notwithstanding the figures which one would not like to question because the team has indeed got a few good men, worthy of what they are being paid. There are a few Corporate lessons one can learn from Mumbai's failure to start its winning habits even after 4 games (30%) have been played.
Firstly, there is nothing wrong with the team. The players are good. There is an amazing balance in the team. Perhaps one can argue that with Sachin missing and Sanath not firing they are not as damaging at the top as some of the other players. Similarly, even in the bowling department too something seems missing. But this is the best part, when ever things go wrong, one looses confidence on one's abilities. So if it is a company the easiest diagnosis that can be done is whether the team selected for the task is upto it. Unfortunately we always go for the easiest diagnosis.

Secondly, as in sport, in business too failures are as probable as success. If the probability of success is too high perhaps the team is underestimating its own potential and taking fewer risks (...read infosys), if the probability of success is lower than failure one can detect the mindset of a failure and 'not trying enough' attitude. So in my book failures are good and are welcome. Stronger teams are likely to emerge from such fiascos. Well you have proven stars and upcoming stars with potential. You have a successful Indian coach in Rajput. And advisers like Harsha with their wealth of experience and understanding of the game, failure cannot be final for them. Success is round the corner. They need to believe in themselves.

Thirdly, just look at the faces of Ronchi, Pollock and Sanath. It speaks volumes of the tremendous pressure they are in. Both morally and also the last two gentlemen are among the finest that the game has seen. The body language of Utthapa too said that he is getting bogged down by the weight of failures. A string of failures can do unexpected damage to a person's capabilities. Perhaps this is where great captains and managers come in. They need to take these players to proper frame of mind. They need to give them support and confidence. A beginning can be made by the mumbai Indians if they name Pollock as the captain of the rest of the tournament. I am sure even Sachin would not mind playing under Pollock when he returns. Also if they can announce in advance that they have faith in these gentlemen and can assure them their places for the next series as well. IPL is all about innovating and trying. Such things don't happen when one is under pressure. When the murphy's law ( which I think states that when things start to go wrong just about everything goes wrong and in huge amount) operates little can be done except to keep the chin high.

Lastly, they would do well to re-organise the batting order a bit. Let Uthappa open with Sanath and be encouraged to play his natural game. Ronchi can come down to Nayyar's place and Nayar can go in at No.3. The bottom line is that trying out a few things in such times may lead to a winning combination.
Investing is all about awareness and discipline