If I were the Chairman of Selectors

The Indian Cricket Team if I were the Chairman of Selectors.

Summer Internship at Draftfcb + Ulka

Internship Profile

Division:                      Strategic Planning

Location:                    1103/5, Barton Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore

Industry Guide:           Aishwarya Anandanathan

Designation:                Account Executive

Assignments Performed

Assignment 1:

·         Xylys Relaunch - Detailed product and price analysis based on mystery shopping with leading watch stores across Bangalore

·         Perform an exit interview with 20 respondents walking out of leading watch stores across Bangalore

·         Tabulate data collected from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai based on the survey results and reporting the same in an excel spreadsheet

Assignment 2:

·        Summer Project -“Changing World of Children’s Advertising - ATL, Promotions, Surround and Digital with specific focus on Confectionery and Biscuits segments”.

Experience of working with the Draftfcb + Ulka Team

The first thing that I noticed when I began my internship at Draftfcb + Ulka was the commitment that each individual showed towards their work. This, in turn rubbed off on me and I was naturally prepared to work sincerely in all my tasks. Another interesting thing was the way the agency functioned. It did not act as an advertising agency, but rather as a strategy partner with the clients. I gradually learned that during my internship, they were handling 2 clients, ITC and Wipro in Bangalore. In spite of the busy schedule and work load, my mentor always found time to help me with my research providing suggestions from time to time as well as guiding me on how to conduct the customer surveys.

The company has strict policies on non disclosure of client data and would not share such information that may be reproduced in the future for any purpose. However, in an effort to make clear the method of analyzing different ads and promotions, I was allowed to observe the obvious models of the process. The entire duration of 2 months that I spent as an intern with the company, I felt no different from the employees. I was welcome and acknowledged from time to time on my tasks completed.

At the end of the internship, I know now how an advertising agency works in modern day businesses. It develops creative strategies for clients, work on building a brand as their own and see to it that everything falls in place right from the tagline to the poster to the television commercial and final positioning of the brand.

Indian Cricket Individuals

nPower Test Series 2011

Indian Politics and Indian Cricket - everything that is talked about these two is easier said than done. However, like all cricket columnists and their opinions, I think I’m entitled to mine. This is the series that everybody believed will test the Numero Uno status of the Indian Cricket team. The first 2 matches have displayed the lack of preparation, the inability to cope with foreign conditions and the injury blows either due to lack of match practice or just plainly unfit athletes. Even as a viewer sitting in my room and watching on the television I notice a sense of complacency seeping into the approach of the Indian players and the way they carry themselves on the pitch. There is a certain air of self-importance and arrogance in the way they carry themselves.

Question in my mind, “Do these people think it’s just another game and they will still qualify for the finals anyway?” I don’t know exactly but I’m made to think so. At this age (I’m 24) I know that success does affect the behavioral attitude and that may be the reason why a certain Raina or a Yuvraj or a Bhajji and even Skipper Dhoni got self-satisfied. The hectic T20 schedule may have caused the fatigue in the Indian dressing room. In my humble opinion and as an ardent Test cricket lover, I feel IPL does no good to the game, except maybe good money (but for a lot of people). Zaheer's injury, Sehwag's absence, Bhajji's attitude and even the inept technique of Raina & Yuvraj may all be the consequence of a long schedule of the elaborate T20 format and the intensity that these games draw from the players (all Test players except VVS Laxman play in the IPL).

Individually, the Indian cricketers are talented, aggressive and a couple of them are legends, no two words on that. Just glancing at the lineup before a match, it must give jitters to any opposition. I also don’t think its lack of skill or competency that is causing India’s debacle in the on-going series. However, it is certainly debatable whether we will be able to retain No. 1 spot without a lethal bowling attack which all top test playing countries have. I don’t have much to complain against any of the players either. I also don’t identify anything against the strategies by MS Dhoni so far. It is perhaps just a tired state of mind (also pride) and drained physical motivation, really. India, with Sehwag and Zaheer back in the team will look like Champions once again, no doubt. They will win again, no doubt. Right now, it is however, clear that Indian Cricket Team is individually driven and not a synergistic, cohesive unit that fight together. Atleast, I get that kind of feeling while listening to the commentary and reading the newspaper articles. All that is being said and written about is a certain Tendulkar, a certain Zaheer, a certain Dravid. I’m hopeful (not quite confident) of a comeback by the team once these individuals are back in the playing 11.