Day 20 – Q 1.India lost the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. What sort of attitude should one ardent cricket follower have to digest the loss? Discuss.

1. India lost the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. What sort of attitude should one ardent cricket follower have to digest the loss? Discuss. 

भारत न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ विश्व कप सेमीफाइनल हार गया। एक उत्साही क्रिकेट अनुयायी को किस तरह के रवैये से इस हार को स्वीकार करने में आसानी होगी? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

Despite giving a tough fight to New Zealand in the semi-finals at the ICC World Cup, India lost the match by 18 runs on Wednesday. The unexpected loss left largely disappointed fans back home trying to come to terms with the heart-breaking end of the team’s bid for a third World Cup crown.

Body:

Watching your favourite team lose can be tough to handle, learning how to handle the losses is an important part of being a fan. 

The best attitude one can have to digest the loss is: 

• Maintaining emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence encompasses being aware, being able to harness and use emotions for good and the ability to manage emotions, especially your own. The loss should not lead to unruly behaviour and uncalled frustration. A fan must always remember he represents his team as much as he represents himself.
• Acknowledge your feelings:  If one is angry or upset about their team losing, don’t pretend otherwise. Give yourself a chance to vent a little bit, or at least be disappointed. Because it’s only a game, there is no reason for our anger or sadness to lead to personally destructive behaviour.
• Be optimistic: The great thing about sports is that there will always be another game. Another game means another chance to win. Instead of dwelling on the game your team lost today, think about the game they could win next time out.
• Talk to other fans, brainstorm the causes: Sports are a great group experience, and even if you are watching alone at home, there are other people out there enjoying the game too. Calling friends who are also fans to let off steam and cope with the disappointment of a losing team or even brainstorm ways to fix what went wrong can help vent it out.
• Remembering it’s just a game: Life is full of other important things than who wins and loses a game that we aren’t even playing in. While people can lose sight of this in the excitement of a game, it is always a good reminder after a loss. This doesn’t make your disappointment at losing any less real, but can help you move past it quickly.
• Staying loyal to the team: One loss shouldn’t be enough to drive us from supporting our team. Staying loyal after a loss, can give a big psychological boost. Also, sticking it out through the bad times will make it feel even better when your team does win the big one.
• Remember the good times:  While losses hurt, no team loses all the time. To get over a big defeat, think about the team’s good times. Remember great comebacks, championships, or even just good times with friends and family watching your team.  Ex: India was on top of the points table before the semi-finals. 
• Be prepared to deal with taunting from other fans: Taunting, insults, and banter are parts of the sports fan experience, and fans of the losing team almost certainly are a target after losing. Rather than being surprised when it happens, be prepared to handle it appropriately.

Conclusion:

Looking at the positives of the World Cup and the journey it took to get there, is enriching and inspiring in itself. As our Honourable Prime Minister said, It was “A disappointing result, but good to see Team India’s fighting spirit till the very end. India batted, bowled, fielded well throughout the tournament, of which we are very proud. Wins and losses are a part of life.”