Yesterday, I was watching a T20 match on TV when a wild thought crossed my mind: Why do teams play so aggressively in T20 matches, while the same players appear far more relaxed in 50-over games & Why is the run rate significantly higher in T20 matches?
Upon further introspection, I realised that our careers follow a very similar pattern. If we plan to retire at 60, we naturally choose a comfortable pace, but when we decide to play a T20 match, we often increase our own run-rate to win our life's match.
Here are some points of my observations:
1️⃣ Since there are only 20 overs in T20 match, every single ball becomes precious; you just can't waste a single ball. Similarly, when we plan to retire at 40, every day becomes a valuable asset. People who successfully retire early often treat their weekends like an experiment lab; testing side hustles, businesses, or new income streams.
2️⃣ While watching T20 matches, we often say things like: “Batsman ball peey raha hai… sirf tika hua hai.” Often, not realizing that we are doing exactly the same in our own careers, just staying on the corporate pitch, not scoring enough runs to actually win the match.
3️⃣ We’re constantly told to play it safe in our careers. But imagine if T20 players played safe in their matches. Why would any team even select them? The same logic applies to our lives as well.
When we’re stuck playing a 50-over mindset in a fast-changing world, we slowly become a liability to ourselves and sometimes even to our teams.
4️⃣ Most IPL players retire from professional cricket by 30–35, yet many go on to build active second careers. They run restaurants, invest in real estate, create personal brands, or stay relevant through media and social platforms.
When you shorten your playing tenure, you automatically raise your run rate.
5️⃣ A T20 match is always a team game. There’s no point if only one player plays aggressively while the rest bat like it’s a 50-over match.
The same is true in life. Our families play a crucial role in an early retirement journey. Everyone must align toward the same goal, sometimes sacrificing vacations, upgrades, or luxuries for a bigger win later.
What I chose for myself :
When I started my career, I was also playing a 50-over match. But almost halfway through, I realised this wasn’t the match I wanted to play.
So I increased my run rate, worked harder on weekends, experimented with side projects, and took some calculated risks.
Today, I am financially free at 40. In a way, I’ve already won the T20 match of my life.