I try to play cricket every now and then. Being part of a referral business networking organisation like BNI, we occasionally get together for friendly matches. Post my school days, I never thought I’d pick up the bat again, but here I am in my late 30s, back on the field — and loving it.

Maybe that’s why the lessons from cricket, especially Test cricket, feel so real to me now.

At Movementor Education, where I guide students towards higher education abroad, we think and talk a lot about careers — and the power of international education to shape them. Every day, I see how a career is less about quick wins and more about long-term growth. That perspective has only deepened my appreciation for Test cricket.

When I was younger, I loved the fireworks of T20 cricket. The big hits, the quick results, the rush of excitement — it was thrilling. Even One-Day matches felt like a perfect balance: a bit of patience, a bit of urgency. But Test cricket? I used to think it was slow, even boring at times.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve started to see it differently — both the game and life itself.

The recently concluded India–England Test series was a perfect reminder of why the format is still alive and thriving. What a finale it was — gripping, tense, and unforgettable. Those who think Test cricket is dying… think again. This was the ultimate battle of skill, stamina, and strategy.

With my heavy work schedule, I couldn’t catch every ball live, but whenever I could steal a break, I tuned in. Even in those short windows, I could feel the ebb and flow of momentum, the little shifts that decide a session, and ultimately, the match.

Test cricket isn’t about winning a single over or two. It’s about winning sessions. A single good shot means little if you can’t back it up with steady play over hours, days, and ultimately the whole match. It’s about showing up, over and over, with focus and discipline, regardless of whether the last ball you faced was a six or a dot ball.

In careers, the same principle applies. Longevity and success don’t come from one flashy presentation, a single promotion, or a short burst of productivity. They come from:

• Consistency – delivering results day after day, project after project.
• Stamina – the ability to stay in the game when it gets tough, when results aren’t immediate.
• Discipline – sticking to the process, even when the temptation is to play rashly.
• Patience – knowing that the real wins often take years to build.

And here’s the hard truth — just as a batsman without sound technique gets exposed in a five-day Test, in your career, if you’re not technically sound or well-educated in your field, time will expose the gaps. In T20, you might get away with a few lucky swings; in a Test, the bowlers will find your weakness. Similarly, in the workplace, quick wins and charm might carry you for a while, but eventually, skill, knowledge, and fundamentals determine whether you can survive and thrive.

This is even more relevant today with the advent of AI. Technology is evolving faster than ever, and industries are being reshaped in real time. If you stand still, you fall behind. Just like a Test batsman constantly adjusting to pitch and weather conditions, you must keep improving, upskilling, and adapting — or you’ll perish. AI won’t just replace repetitive work; it will expose skill gaps the same way a world-class bowler exposes a shaky technique.

The beauty of Test cricket lies in its depth. Every run, every defensive block, every leave outside off-stump matters. Likewise, in our careers, the small, disciplined actions — the emails you send with care, the extra hour you spend preparing, the relationship you nurture quietly — these are the moments that add up.

It’s not about winning the moment. It’s about winning the journey. And that requires not just skill, but the mental endurance to keep going when the crowd has gone quiet.

As I look back, I realise the magic of Test cricket is the same as the magic of a fulfilling career: Play the long game, stay in, be technically sound, adapt to change — and win session by session.