Salute Tiranga Cricket League: How Haryana Lions Built a Winning Team Through Trust and Team Spirit

A few days before Durga Puja began, I received a call from former India cricketer Chetan Sharma, commissioner of the Salute Tiranga Cricket League (STCL), scheduled to be held in Udaipur from October 21 to 28. He asked if I would be interested in coaching one of the franchise teams. Given the way the league's schedule clashed with Durga Puja, the safest option seemed to be to decline the offer.

I took half an hour before calling Kapil Arora, a former cricketer and key member of the organising committee, to confirm my participation. The next two days were spent conducting net sessions for eight teams, each comprising 16 players.

Mind you, the cricketers who participated in this league were no ordinary bunch. Almost all of them had genuine cricketing credentials, with most having represented their respective states. There were far fewer 'sifarishwala' cases than we typically get to see in state teams. With genuine players competing against one another, the league itself proved its worth.

In their opening game against the Rajasthan franchise, Haryana Lions, the team I was coaching, got off to a flying start, thanks largely to the exploits of their captain, Yug Gupta. With his knock in the opening match, he sent a clear message to the other teams that he meant business. He made his presence felt with the ball as well.

The other big names, match-winner Yash Sharma and all-rounder Rohan Bhati, along with teenage batting sensation Kunwar Jham, were exceptional in crunch situations. But the man who stood tall on all counts was Harshit Sharma, who has tremendous potential to go a long way, with his immaculate line and length and impressive pace. Piyush, too, bowled at a brisk pace and provided crucial breakthroughs, much like the dependable left-arm spinner Sachin Dhillon.

Even those who did not make significant individual contributions to the team's victories were never left behind or found wanting. Abhiraj and Krishn, too, contributed to the team's success in their own ways. Even a player like Mulchand had a role to play. Ultimately, it was the collective effort that made the difference.

Why is this story about just one team, Haryana Lions? Simply because they proved their worth in every possible way, not least through the generosity, commitment and vision of their owner, Naveen Kumar.

This team did not succeed because of any one individual. By the time Haryana Lions reached the final, they had evolved into a tightly knit unit, bound together by an unbreakable team spirit. Owner Naveen often spoke about creating an aura around the team and setting certain standards for the league. Haryana Lions, indeed, walked the talk.

At no point was there any scope to press the panic button. Everyone knew their responsibilities and, more importantly, how to execute them. There was a strong understanding among the senior and core players, built on mutual trust and respect.

That, perhaps, was the biggest strength of Haryana Lions. They were not merely a collection of talented cricketers; they were a team that understood the value of togetherness, clarity of purpose and mutual trust.

And that is what made their journey truly special.