BEHAVIOUR WILL DEFINE WEALTH IN 2026, NOT MARKETS

Sachin Tendulkar, arguably the greatest batsman of all time, hit a rough patch in 2003-04.

- SWARUP ANAND MOHANTY

He was repeatedly getting out to deliveries outside the off'stump, especially while playing the cover drive, his signature and most fluent stroke.After 13 innings without a century, he made a conscious and counter-intuitive decision in the Sydney Test of 2004: he would not play the cover drive at all. The result was an unbeaten and masterful 241 against a formidable Australian attack. His ability to suppress instinct for nearly ten hours reflected immense clarity, discipline, and mental fortitude.

The equity markets in 2026 may test investors in a similar way. When instinct drives us toward quick, impulsive reactions, it is behavioural discipline, steady restraint, and clarity of purpose that will truly determine outcomes.

Markets may remain active and even unpredictable, but investor reactions will matter more. The past year made it clear that we are now operating in a sharply polarised global environment, one actively reshaping policies, fluctuating flows, currencies, and commodities.

For the first time, global reserves in gold have surpassed reserves in the US dollar, marking a significant structural shift in how nations perceive security and long-term value.