In the great game of cricket, true excellence strikes or arrives with the lessons learnt basis wins and defeats. It’s a game of small margins but one also packed with huge learning. And one that often
makes us ponder about our decisions, calls and strategic moves, some of which may or may not work especially in big key games. And one such game was evident just a few hours ago when at the legendary Wankhede at Mumbai, the team dubbed or billed as “unstoppable” came to collide with a train, a high voltage one called the West Indies. Zimbabwe were hurt. They were pummelled and they bled. But the one man who witnessed the ensuing action which soon enough turned into cricketing chaos and destruction suffered at the hands of the T20 force that the West Indies are was Sikandar Raza. He made earnest assessments of the match and expressed his heart out in the aftermath of the 107-run loss suffered by his team. But make no mistake- he was eager to learn and bounce back. So what did Raza say and do?
In the aftermath of a heavy defeat to a dominant West Indies side, it would have been easy for frustration to spill over. Easy to deflect. Easy to dramatize. But Sikandar Raza chose a different route. Measured. Honest. Grounded. “Both us and India have lost a game each, so there’s plenty to prove in the next game. We’ll take lessons from tonight and try to perform better.”
There was no excuse-making in that statement. No attempt to downplay the loss. No emotional overreach. Just clarity.
Sikandar Raza said, “both us and India have lost a game each, so there’s plenty to prove in the next game. We’ll take lessons from tonight and try to perform better”. pic.twitter.com/iLy4PyLm3w
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 23, 2026
Perspective Over Panic What stands out most in Raza’s words is perspective. In tournament cricket, especially T20, defeats can distort narratives. A single bad night can trigger sweeping conclusions about form, selection, or intent. But Raza refused to indulge that spiral.
By pointing out that both Zimbabwe and India have suffered a defeat, he subtly levelled the field. The message was simple: this competition is fluid. No team is invincible. Momentum can shift quickly.
That is leadership — calming the dressing room before calming the public. Lessons, Not Laments Raza didn’t romanticize the loss. Nor did he dismiss it. Instead, he acknowledged it as a learning curve.
That’s significant.
Zimbabwe’s journey in global tournaments has often been about bridging gaps — in experience, in depth, in resources. But what has steadily improved over the years is mindset.
Under Raza’s leadership, Zimbabwe have played with intent and self-belief. His response reinforced that evolution.
The focus isn’t on what went wrong — it’s on what can be corrected. Brave, Not Brash There’s a fine line between confidence and defiance. Raza walked it well.
He didn’t promise redemption in dramatic tones. He didn’t make bold declarations.
Instead, he spoke of proving a point — on the field.
That subtle difference matters. It shows maturity
