opinion
JUSTIN LANGER: If it's your move, maybe take note of these Indian chess grandmaster siblings

This week, I was in Kolkata preparing for next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). My focus over four days was centred on preparing for Sunday and Monday’s ‘mega’ auction in Saudi Arabia. Such timing may seem odd, considering it falls on days three and four of the West Test in Perth. But, in reality, nothing surprises when it comes to the giant of global cricket in India. It is a business of vast magnitude, and nothing, including a Test match, gets in the way of that country’s annual sporting schedule. So much of India is a beautiful chaos. The white noise of energy, chatter, banging, and of course the honking of car horns is a constant swirl. The thick air filled with the smells of spices, oils and perfumes is intoxicating and the colours are a tapestry of brilliance wherever you look. At breakfast on Thursday, I sat drinking my South Indian filtered coffee with my friend, our team’s data analyst Shrinivas. Quietly he pointed at two young people sitting together, heads bowed, eating their breakfast. “Do you know who they are?” he asked. Shaking my head, he told me they were Rameshbabu and Vaishali Praggnanandhaa, two legendary chess grandmasters. Brother and sister, the two of them looked like young kids, occasionally giggling or nodding to each other. Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, also known as Pragg, is a young Indian chess prodigy and grandmaster. Only 19, he became the youngest international master in history at the tender age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. He achieved his final grandmaster norm (a high-level performance qualification) in 2018 at age 12, becoming one of the youngest in history. A grandmaster, by definition, is a chess player of the highest class, especially one who has won an international tournament. There are about 1700 active grandmasters in the world, making it one of the most exclusive titles in sports. Pragg’s 23-year-old sister Vaishali is a woman grandmaster (WGM) and has achieved the international master (IM) title. She made me think of the television series The Queen’s Gambit about the life of orphan chess prodigy, Elizabeth Harmon. Harmon’s story was enthralling and made the game of chess seem so cool when I first watched the show on Netflix. Pragg and Vaishali are remarkable siblings by any measure, yet sitting together, they looked anything but remarkable. Just two young friends, eating their breakfast, drinking their tea and ignoring the stares of most people sitting in the same hotel restaurant. Together, they proved that greatness knows no age, and that sometimes, the most extraordinary moves in life are made by those brave enough to play the game their own way. Being in their presence made me think about what I was in India for and how I have spent much of my last 15 years as a coach, selector, administrator and director. Human resource managers and leaders will understand the complex challenges of dealing with people. Challenges that are often like giant games of chess played with human beings, not kings, rooks, bishops, queens, and pawns, as pieces on a board. The pressure of navigating the fate of people is an interesting concept. Some will tell you pressure is a privilege. Others will describe it as a crushing, soul-destroying feeling that steals your happiness and paralyses life’s flow. The best way to steer your way through complex situations, like a chess grandmaster, is to keep your head down and deal with what you have in front of you. Take the IPL auction coming up on Sunday. When I explain the process to sports or business colleagues, they look at me in disbelief. Think of it this way — picture your favourite AFL team. Every three years, there is a mega auction where the decision-makers of each franchise can retain up to six of their players. Every other player is released back into the auction pool, hoping to be picked up by another team. Some will be re-selected into their former franchise, depending on how things pan out. From the start of the decision-making process, the test is in selecting the six players you want to retain. This is no easy task because of the depth of super-talented young men you have previously worked with. Some teams take the option of six, while others, like Ricky Ponting’s, chose to retain only two. The process of telling the players you are releasing about your decision can be heart-wrenching. Often, they are line-ball calls, so your communication must be honest and clear. After calls are made on your current crop, it is time to prepare and deliberate for the future. Each team has a total purse of ₹120 crore ($21.6 million) to spend on their list. This will vary on auction day depending on how many players you choose to retain. At the Lucknow Super Giants, we chose to retain five players from last season, so at the IPL auction, we have to fit the remainder of our squad into the salary cap. Like every other team, we must add to the backbone of our retentions by balancing our spending between marquee players and uncapped talent. Analysing the characteristics of the long list of nominations includes recognising that talent is not your only consideration. The person’s character also plays a role. While we lean on data analytics to guide decisions, using advanced metrics like strike rates and the bowling economy under pressure, the missing ingredient is often the personality of the player. Team chemistry — which considers team dynamics, players with leadership qualities and a positive attitude — are essential for lifting and upholding team morale during the intensity of an IPL season. I like to use the ears, eyes and numbers philosophy. With our data analyst and scouting team, we know what we see, understand what the numbers tell us, and, importantly, use our contacts to learn and hear about the person’s character and cricket prowess on and off the field. Getting this combination right gives you the best chance of success and saves you a lot of headaches. Selecting the right people is as essential for your environment as identifying their pure skill set. Choose wisely, and your changeroom will be a happy, thriving environment. Watching the AFL draft on Wednesday night, I respect the work that goes into every decision. The reaction of the young players when their names were read out shows how much it means to them, their families and their players. My compassion also goes out to those who miss out on selection. Hearts were broken at the AFL draft as they will be in the cricket world on Sunday and Monday. In the IPL auction, 575 players have nominated themselves. Unfortunately, there are only about 170 spots available. Like any industry, attracting and retaining the best talent is pivotal to the success of an organisation. Selecting your people is no easy task, but there is no more important one. Decision-making is the pivotal role of leadership, and while the processes wrapped up in tough calls can be complex and tiring, they are necessary and critical to success. I have seen the same decisions and heartbreaks in the corporate world, where the best people are attracted and retained. They are also released at times because of varying circumstances, like drops in commodity prices or decreases in sales. These are tough times for those charged with making the judgements. When Rameshbabu and Vaishali Praggnanandhaa sit at the chess board, they know every move is critical, especially in the big leagues. Because they are so good at it, they have earned the title of grandmaster. In life, when you are dealing with people, you must act as a grandmaster. Think through your strategies and moves, and back yourself in to get it right. Checkmate.

opinionJUSTIN LANGER: If it's your move, maybe take note of these Indian chess grandmaster siblings

opinion
JUSTIN LANGER: If it's your move, maybe take note of these Indian chess grandmaster siblings