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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

Four Investing Lessons from Teachers

Every September, we remember our teachers - the ones who shaped our thinking, disciplined our efforts, and instilled in us habits that...

Four Investing Lessons from Teachers

Every September, we remember our teachers - the ones who shaped our thinking, disciplined our efforts, and instilled in us habits that stayed far beyond the classroom. Teacher’s Day, celebrated on 5th September, is not just about gratitude for academics; it is also a chance to revisit the timeless life lessons that apply to every sphere - including our financial journey. Let us look at four lessons our teachers gave us: 1. Level up as you grow Remember how each year in school meant tougher chapters, larger books, and more hours of study? Teachers always reminded us: “You will need to study more this year than you did last year.” The same applies to our finances. As we grow older and our incomes rise, our responsibilities also expand. A higher salary should never mean only higher expenses. Just as we studied harder year after year, we must also invest harder - by increasing our SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) regularly and topping them up with lump-sum contributions when possible. The discipline of “leveling up” ensures that our wealth creation keeps pace with our career growth. 2. Prepare in advance Every student has faced the nightmare of trying to cram lessons the night before an exam. And every teacher warned us: “Do not study at the last minute.” The message was clear - preparation is the key to confidence and success. Financial planning works exactly the same way. Delaying investments until the last moment - say, a few years before your child’s education or your retirement - can leave you stressed and short of funds. In finance, as in exams, timely preparation and action is everything. 3. Life is a race Most of us disliked hearing it, but our teachers were right when they said, “Life is a race.” As children, marks were compared. As adults, our financial achievements are. Financial goals form the racecourse of life - a dream home, a dream car, a dream vacation, your child’s education, your child’s marriage, and finally, a comfortable retirement. Achieving these six milestones requires more than wishful thinking. You need to invest adequately, consistently, and wisely. 4. Think long term Teachers instilled habits and discipline in us because they knew the benefits would unfold over time. Similarly, in finance, we must measure the cost of decisions on a long-term basis. True wealth creation happens only when we think beyond the short term. For long-term goals, equity mutual funds, stocks, and gold remain the priority. Wherever I talk about investments in these articles, I specifically refer to these three products. To conclude Teachers did more than explain textbooks; they prepared us for life. Happy Teacher’s Day! (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Ashwin: A spinner who spun narratives as well as balls

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Ravichandran Ashwin, the eternal tinkerer of Indian cricket, has finally decided to hang up his IPL boots after the 2025 season. What a shocker—said no one who’s been watching his recent performances. At 39, Ashwin announced his retirement via social media, probably because he couldn’t bear another auction where teams pretend to bid on him like he’s a vintage wine that’s turned to vinegar. After 17 years of spinning webs (and occasionally getting tangled in them), he’s bowing out with 221 matches under his belt, 187 wickets at an average of 30.23, and an economy rate of 7.20 that screams “reliable, but not exactly Lasith Malinga territory.” But hey, let’s not dwell on the numbers; let’s celebrate the man who turned the IPL into his personal laboratory for experiments that sometimes worked, sometimes exploded spectacularly.


Let’s start with the highs, because every opinion piece needs a sugar rush before the diabetic coma sets in. Ashwin’s best IPL moments? Oh, where to begin with this wizard of off-spin. Remember his 4/34 against whoever-it-was—probably some hapless batsmen who thought they could dance down the track without consequences. That spell is etched in IPL lore as one of his top bowling efforts, where he turned the ball like it owed him money. And batting? The man once smashed a 50 for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals in 2022, proving he’s not just a bowler who occasionally holds a bat—he’s a bowler who occasionally pretends to be a batsman. His all-round prowess helped Chennai Super Kings win titles twice, back when MS Dhoni was still whispering sweet nothings to spinners. Ashwin was a pioneer, a trendsetter, innovating with carrom balls and arm balls that left batsmen looking like they’d seen a ghost. In his prime, he was the guy you wanted in death overs, not because he’d take five wickets, but because he’d make the opposition rethink their life choices. Kudos, Ash; you made spin sexy in a league obsessed with sixes. Or at least, tolerable.


But ah, the controversies—the spice that made Ashwin the IPL’s resident drama king. Who could forget the 2019 Mankading of Jos Buttler? There he was, mid-delivery stride, spotting Buttler wandering out of his crease like a tourist lost in Jaipur traffic, and bam! Run-out without bowling the ball. Spirit of cricket? Pfft, Ashwin called it “instinct,” while the world erupted in faux outrage. Critics screamed “unsportsmanlike,” but let’s be real: if Buttler can’t stay in his crease, maybe he should try gardening instead. Then there’s the 2022 “retired out” fiasco against Lucknow Super Giants, where Ashwin tactically benched himself mid-innings, becoming the first IPL player to do so. Innovative? Sure. But it felt like quitting a bad date halfway through—classy, or just cowardly? Oh, and his YouTube channel antics! Posting videos dissecting CSK’s strategies, criticizing teammates like Noor Ahmad, and stirring pots like a celebrity chef. Last season, he even dragged Dewald Brevis into a price-tag row, questioning Mumbai Indians’ splurge on the kid while ignoring his own waning form. The man collected controversies like kids collect Pokémon cards: obsessively and with zero regrets.


Now, for the failures, because balance is key, and sarcasm demands we roast the lows. Ashwin’s IPL journey wasn’t all carrom-ball glory; there were seasons where he bowled like he’d forgotten his glasses at home. Take 2025, his much-hyped return to CSK for a cool ₹9.75 crore. What did we get? Five wickets in six matches, an average that could double as a highway speed limit, and Dhoni himself admitting the team’s bowling woes. Ashwin looked lost, handing out runs like free samples at a mall. Critics piled on, calling his performances “safe” but ineffective, as CSK tumbled down the table. Remember those Powerplay battles he lamented back in 2019 with Kings XI Punjab? Yeah, his team lost most games there, thanks in part to overseas pacers flopping and Ashwin’s inability to stem the flow. Injuries didn’t help, nor did his occasional brain fades, like failing to adapt outside subcontinental pitches in international cricket, which bled into IPL inconsistencies. And let’s chuckle at his fan-trolling episode in 2025, where he begged CSK supporters to “learn from loyal RCB fans” amid the team’s slump. Bold move, Ash—alienating your own base while underperforming. In Rajasthan Royals’ 2025 underperformance saga, he was part of the tactical misfires that saw them flounder, proving even legends can turn into liabilities when age catches up.


In the end, Ashwin’s IPL retirement feels like the merciful end to a long-running sitcom.


(The Writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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