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Krish Ramineni, CEO of Fireflies.ai, heads one of the leading AI startups today, and he has learned that in order to achieve your dreams, you have to make choices that may not sit well at first. Ramineni’s passion for cricket has been a very useful life lesson.
What inspired you to start playing cricket, and how did you get into it?
I first started playing cricket by watching matches with my father, especially when Dhoni started playing. At the time, I was playing competitive tennis and swimming, so my parents were not interested in me playing cricket. However, some friends invited me to join their cricket club when I was a kid. Although my parents discouraged me from doing so, I would sneak out on weekends to play adult league games. My father’s friends, who were part of these leagues, convinced my father to let me join them, which helped me delve deeper into the sport.
How has cricket impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
My admiration for Donnie’s team leadership style has greatly influenced how I deal with challenges at work. Cricket has taught me leadership, strategy, quick decision making and staying mentally sharp. On a personal level, it’s a stress reliever, a way to connect with friends, and keeps me focused.
How often do you play?
Before Fireflies, I played more frequently. During the pandemic, I have had networking sessions on the weekends for social distancing. It has helped me improve significantly, built muscle memory, and made playing matches easier.
What is your fondest memory so far from playing this sport?
Scoring my first 50 points in a league game was big. It taught me discipline and the joy of a big innings, and overcoming the fear of getting out early, a common setback in cricket.
Do you prefer bowling or batting?
I enjoy hitting more, I usually open the ball or drop it. When it comes to bowling, I prefer leg spin, influenced by Shane Warne. Playing with a leather ball makes leg rotation easier.
Your favorite team and player?
I passionately follow the World Cup and Indian Premier League matches, and support the different teams. I was particularly impressed with Sunrisers Hyderabad, especially when David Warner was part of the team. Currently, I admire Virat Kohli because of his exceptional style of play.
Similarities between being a cricketer and a businessman?
Both require split-second decision making, strategy execution, pressure handling, team leadership, and the ability to make data-driven decisions as well as instinctive decisions. Discipline is key, along with the ability to motivate and unite people.