Sometimes success can be worse than failure in sport

Two of India’s most talented players, neither of whom lived up to his full potential, are again in the news. Opportunities lost and promises unfulfilled make up some of sport’s — in fact, life’s — saddest stories. Of the two, Vinod Kambli is 52 and Prithvi Shaw 25. A return to international cricket and redemption is not ruled out for the younger man, even if his Mumbai captain thinks that one can’t babysit him anymore.

In a moving gesture from a former great, Greg Chappell wrote to Shaw the following lines of encouragement: “I remember watching you play for India’s Under-19 team, where you showcased an extraordinary talent and a spark that made it clear you were among the most exciting young cricketers of your time. Those of us who recognize your potential are still keenly watching your journey, knowing that the best is yet to come.”

Do we give up too easily on a player? What of those like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, derided at one time for their apparently wayward ways when fame and fortune first came their way, but now the darlings of the establishment and captains of India? What if someone hadn’t made the effort to advice them, stick with them?

Competition is stiff in Indian cricket; every slot has a few performers of near-equal strength. Even those with god-given gifts (his captain’s description of Shaw’s talent) have to work hard, keep fit and avoid temptations.

Cricket captains, some fighting for their own places, cannot always be expected to play the role of psychologist or encourager-in-chief. Those making the difficult transition from outstanding schoolboys or early successes to maturity often need professional help. They are vulnerable, easily tempted away from the straight and narrow. They are quickly labelled ‘difficult’ by adults who forget what it was like when they themselves were in their teens. A little understanding goes a long way.

Many of our finest schoolboy cricketers who went on to carve successful international careers, from Yuvraj Singh to Rohit Sharma have had to work it out for themselves. In a 2010 interview, Yuvraj told ESPNCricinfo: “I see a lot of youngsters like Kohli and Rohit who are very talented and flamboyant. I tell them not to make the same mistakes I made….but they don’t listen. I don’t blame them because a lot of times Sachin or Sourav or Kumble said something to me and I said ‘What do they know?’ ”.

Watching Kohli and Sharma today, all dignity and poise, and fine examples of the gentlemanly cricketer, it might me difficult to believe that they were once the brash boys of the game, and close to throwing it all away. This is not to suggest that India, or any team, should produce cookie-cutter players each a clone of the next, but to emphasise the importance of the right advice at the right time to fully realise a player’s potential.

Mumbai dropping Shaw for “fitness and disciplinary issues” suggests a distancing from a player who went unsold at the IPL auction recently. This was someone who once made over 500 runs in an innings in a schools match and had a century on Test debut at 19.

Kambli’s case is a failure as much of the individual as of the system. Good enough to score back-to-back double centuries in Tests, he had two other centuries besides, in his first seven Tests. A batter who once hit Shane Warne for 22 runs in an over, he was finished at 23. The World Cup-winning Indian team of 1983 has promised help — if he first goes into rehab, where he has been 14 times.

Too much too early without the emotional strength to handle it, says the rest of the world and moves on. Indian cricket does not have a system of mentoring young players — such things happened unplanned when there were players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble in the team. The seniors lead by example, if the team is fortunate.

Success can be a double-edged sword, as many promising players have discovered. It gives and it takes away with equal power. We mourn the unfulfilled, but they deserve more, like professional help when they are most vulnerable.