The Courage to Face Challenges

A life of comfort may seem peaceful, but its high cost is an incomplete character. Such a person never attains the heights he could have reached. On January 6, 1990, newspapers reported the surprising news that Mohammad Azharuddin had been unanimously appointed captain of the Indian national cricket team. He would lead the team on its tour of New Zealand. Many expected the position to go to Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who had recently captained India in the Sharjah Cup, the Nehru Cup, and the Pakistan tour. At just 27, the Hyderabadi batsman—often called the “wonder boy” of Indian cricket—became the second youngest Indian captain, after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who took on the role at 21. What lifted Azharuddin to such heights was his ability to face challenges without losing heart and to emerge stronger. In December 1989, during the Pakistan tour, his Test career seemed at risk. In the first innings of the Faisalabad Test, he was dismissed for a duck. But in the second innings, with a brilliant century, he rescued his career from collapse. According to The Times of India (January 2, 1990), the selection committee chairman at the time, Raj Singh Dungarpur (1935–2009), explained the decision: “He loves getting out of challenging situations, as was seen on the tour of Pakistan where he was on the verge of being dropped from the first Test, and that’s an important ingredient in leadership.”