Karthik Madhira became an IPS officer after a long innings in cricket where he played at various levels. Today, the ace cricketer is an ASP in Lonavala. He brings the same dedication and hard work that he exhibited in his cricket matches to his new field of service.
Hailing from Hyderabad and holding a degree in Computer Science Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Mr. Karthik’s path to the Indian Police Service (IPS) was anything but ordinary.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, the young IPS officer shared about his journey.
PASSION FOR CRICKET
From a vey young age, Mr. Karthik had displayed his passion for cricket, representing various age levels – Under 13, 15, 17, and 19 – and even his university cricket team. However, personal reasons, including an injury, steered him towards a different career path. “I worked for 6 months. I worked at Deloitte but quickly realized that my heart lay elsewhere, and I started preparing for the civil services,” he shared.
THREE FAILURES
Despite facing initial setbacks, Mr. Karthik remained undeterred. In his first three attempts, he couldn’t clear the Prelims examination, but he never gave up on his preparation, especially for his optional subject, sociology. His belief in continuous preparation, rather than compartmentalizing for different rounds, paid off in his fourth attempt, when he not only cleared the Prelims but Mains and Interview as well, with AIR 103 in the year 2019.
“I made sure to not prepare in parts. Most aspirants commit this mistake of keeping Prelims and other rounds separately,” he said.
FINALLY IPS
The joy of success and the sense of belonging he felt during his IPS training reaffirmed that his decision to pursue a career in the police service was correct. “The discipline, routine, and variety of work in policing resonated with me, and I decided to not give further attempts,” he said.
PREPARATION
His preparation strategy revolved around holistic and focused studying. He emphasized on consistent revision, solved numerous test series for both Prelims and Mains, and honed his answer writing skills.
For the interview round, he dedicated time to introspecting on his personality and regularly practised with mock interviews and discussions with family members and experienced bureaucrats.
LOVE FOR THE GAME
Despite his shift from cricket to civil service, Mr. Karthik never let go of his love for the game. “I sometimes feel like I should’ve stayed in cricket, but this service gives me a lot of satisfaction. I keep playing cricket with my colleagues whenever I get a chance. Unprofessional, but very satisfactory,” Mr. Karthik shared.
The sport’s values like positivity, discipline, focus, and leadership qualities had not only shaped his cricketing career but is also serving him well in the field of policing, where he sees his role as bringing people together to serve the society.
TIPS
Mr. Karthik’s inspiring journey sends a powerful message to aspirants that perseverance and dedication can overcome any failures. “Focus on your strengths and weaknesses and remain consistent on the continuous journey towards success,” he said.
The transformation of Karthik Madhira from a talented cricketer to a dedicated IPS officer showcases the immense power of determination, passion, and adaptability in achieving one’s dreams.
