Page 1971 - Sports

I can learn a lot by just watching Kohli: Markram

The desperation to singlehandedly take his team over the line, condemning himself for mistakes are some of the aspects of Virat Kohli's leadership that South African captain Aiden Markram wants to inculcate after witnessing the Indian skipper maul his side into submission during their 1-5 ODI series defeat. Kohli finished the series with a staggering 558 runs, which includes three hundreds and a half-century. Kohli's desperation to win games for his side is massive. And thats why he condemns himself (on mistakes) like he does. Its all from a competitive point of view and its nothing malicious. That desperation shows when he bats - he doesnt just gets his side close to the line, he gets them over it," Markram said during the media interaction. "So there are a lot of things I can learn from him (Kohli). There are a lot of things I can learn from their team as a whole, and from us as a whole. I am taking little pieces from here and there, the young Proteas captain said. He had no ...

Rumeli Dhar to replace Goswami in T20I against Proteas

All-rounder Rumeli Dhar will join the Indian women's squad to replace injured fast bowler Jhulan Goswami for the remaining three T20Is against South Africa.Goswami was ruled out of the five-match T20I series due to a heel injury.The pacer recently became the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets in the second ODI against South Africa, which clinched by a massive 178-run victory at Kimberley.Goswami, an ICC Women Cricketer of the Year in 2007, had earlier broken Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick's record of highest wickets in women ODIs.India are currently leading the T20I series 2-0 with a a nine-wicket win in the second match.Earlier, India registered a thumping seven-wicket win over South Africa in the high-scoring series opener in Potchefstroom..

Virat is best batsman in world cricket: Shastri

India's head coach Ravi Shastri feels that the sheer impact of Virat Kohli's brilliance makes him "world's best batsman" at the moment. Kohli along with Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Steven Smith are considered to be the four top batsmen in world cricket but Shastri feels that the Indian skipper is in a league of his own. Kohli finished with 558 runs including three centuries in the just-concluded ODI series against South Africa, which India won 5-1. Its not just about averages, it is the way you get runs, when you get it, and the impact those runs have on what the team does. I would simply say he is the best batsman in the world now, Shastri declared at the post series media interaction. Shastri was effusive in his praise for Kohli giving him all credit for the right kind of intensity that he has been able to bring in the unit. You spoke of intensity. Where does the intensity come from? When you have a leader like that, who leads by example, the other guys jolly well follow. ...

One needs to show patience with Markram: Kohli

International cricket can be harsh on young captains and no one knows it better than Virat Kohli, who feels that South Africa should persist with young Aiden Markram, since he has got all the requisite qualities to become a good leader. Markram was handed the South African captaincy after the first ODI as Faf du Plessis got injured and it was a trial by fire with India trouncing the hosts 5-1 in a lopsided six-match series. Hes (Markram) obviously captained his province and he has captained at the junior level as well. I would really suggest people show patience with him because he is potentially your next leader. He is a top-class batsman as well. Its a joy to watch him play and he has definitely got the talent to dominate as a batsman," Kohli was all praise for the former U-19 World Cup winning South African captain. "Hes got the right mindset to dominate as a leader too. He just needs some time. I can totally empathize with him because Ive been in that position. All I can say is ...

ISL: Pune halts Bengaluru's winning streak

FC Pune City stopped Bengaluru FC from registering a record run of six consecutive victories in the Indian Super League as they settled for a 1-1 draw at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.Bengaluru FC had matched Chennaiyin FC's five-match winning run of 2015 and were a match away from creating a record of their own.However, Sarthak Golui's goal in the 20th minute gave Pune the advantage, while Miku ensured Bengaluru got at least a point with the equaliser in the 75th minute.Bengaluru FC have already qualified for the semi-finals and continue to top the group with 34 points from 16 matches.They started the first half in a commanding fashion but 20 minutes into the game found themselves a goal behind.The Pune goal came after Bengaluru FC right back Rahul Bheke's poor clearance fell kindly for Marcelinho, who then made a darting run into the box before squaring the ball for his strike partner Emiliano Alfaro to have a strike at goal.But he instead of putting his foot through, laid it off

Have identified areas which need improvement: Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli is not ready to bask in the glory of a 5-1 ODI series win against South Africa as he has already "identified areas" which require improvement going forward to the next year's World Cup. "We will definitely sit down as a team and figure out the areas that need improvement. I am not denying that there are no areas that need strengthening. We know as a team we need to improve on a certain things. We have identified those things. It is up to us to discuss and improve on those things going forward and solidifying those areas for ourselves, Kohli told mediapersons after the conclusion of the ODI series. India had made only one change for the final game, bringing in Shardul Thakur for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kohli said he didnt see merit in resting Jasprit Bumrah, who is nearly irreplaceable in limited-overs cricket. There was potentially only one guy that we wanted to experiment with, which was Bhuvi, because his workload was immense. Bumrah is a world-class bowler in ..

I-League: Arrows hold Aizawl FC to a 2-2 draw

Indefatigable Indian Arrows staged yet another stupendous comeback as they held ten-man Aizawl FC to a 2-2 draw in their I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan here.Masih Saighani gave Aizawl the lead in the 40th minute while Edmund Lalrindika made it all square three minutes into the second half.Aizawl took the lead once again as Dodoz struck in the 54th minute before an Arrows comeback saw Amarjit Singh converting from the penalty spot in the 89th minute to share the points.As far as changes go, Edmund Lalrindika who made a telling impact against Churchill Brothers as a substitute was slotted into the first eleven.Edmund was given the task of leading the line in place of Aniket Jadhav and he didn't disappoint as he scored his first goal of the I-League season.Aizawl's new coach Santosh Kashyap decided to bring in David Lalrinmuana and C. Lalrosanga in place Syhlo Malsawmtluanga and F. Liandala Senawere.Liandala who came on as a substitute paid a heavy price, having conceded a ...

I don't feel like competing with anyone: Kohli

Virat Kohli has literally made the 22-yard strip his own kingdom and the India captain is not in a mood to "compete with anyone" for any specific "tag" such as the best batsman in world cricket. Kohli was again at the forefront scoring a staggering 558 runs (including three hundreds) in his team's 5-1 ODI series win against South Africa but made it clear that he has never ever played cricket to be a "headline grabber". "At this stage, I dont feel like competing with anyone. Its all about how I prepare before the game and what my work ethics are and how I am feeling on game day. My only motivation is to get into that frame of mind. I am not competing with anyone at all," Kohli said at the post-match press conference. The key to consistency is not thinking too ahead of himself. "But if you are thinking about being ahead of someone else then you will be found out very soon by this game and you are compromising on what the team needs as well, the skipper said after anchoring his team ...

Federer becomes oldest world No.1 in tennis

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has become the oldest world number one after he defeated his Dutch opponent Robin Haase at Rotterdam's ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.London [United Kingdom], Feb 17 (ANI): Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has become the oldest world number one after he defeated his Dutch opponent Robin Haase at Rotterdam's ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.According to the Sky Sports, the Swiss great secured his spot in the history books and the last four of the tournament with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 victory against Haase on Friday.The 36-year-old became the oldest No. 1 male player, surpassing eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi, who holds the record at 33 years since September 2003.

ISL: Pune halts Bengaluru's record run

FC Pune City stopped Bengaluru FC from registering a record run of six consecutive victories in the Indian Super League as they settled for a 1-1 draw at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Friday.

Kohli stars as India outplay South Africa in sixth ODI

Disciplined bowling and unbeaten century by skipper Virat Kohli helped India outplay South Africa by eight wickets in the sixth and final One-day International (ODI) at the Supersport Park here on Friday.

Want to make most of everyday I play: Kohli

His form has been 'Bradmanesque' in ODIs and Virat Kohli wants to make "each and every remaining day" of his international career count. The Indian captain scored a staggering 558 runs in India's 5-1 ODI series victory against South Africa and is now ready to scale greater heights. "I have got eight or nine years left in my career and I want to make the most of every day. It's a blessing that I am healthy and getting to captain my country," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Kohli attributed his success to wife Anushka Sharma, for being a pillar of strength during tough times. "People who are close to me deserve a lot of credit. My wife has kept me going throughout the tour. I am grateful for that. Obviously, you want to lead from the front, and that's a wonderful feeling." The skipper said that he was in right frame of mind while batting today. He scored an unbeaten 129 off 96 balls in India's eight wicket win in the final match. "It was a day where I felt really ...

High Five: Another Kohli ton takes India to 5-1 series win

Skipper Virat Kohli broke a plethora of records en route his 35th century as India crushed South Africa by eight wickets to win the ODI series by a comprehensive 5-1 margin, here today. Not only this was India's first ever series win on South African soil but also their biggest ever in terms of margin outside the sub-continent. Having kept their date with history by sealing the series in the previous encounter, India made short work of a paltry target of 205 by winning in only 32.1 overs with Kohli scoring an unbeaten 129 off 96 balls in another effortless chase. This was Indian captain's third hundred in the series. Kohli was punishing mood as he personally anchored Proteas' biggest humiliation in a bilateral series at home in last 17 years. The last time South Africa lost 1-5 was back in 2001-02 season against a champion Australian side. The Indian skipper looked a like a batsman from a different planet as he toyed with a quality South African attack which looked defeated even ...

India beat South Africa by eight wickets in sixth ODI

India beat South Africa by eight wickets in the sixth and final ODI here to seal the six-match series 5-1. Brief scores: South Africa 204 all out in 46.5 overs (Zondo 54; Thakur 4/52). India 206/2 in 32.1 overs (Kohli 129 not out; Ngidi 2/54).

Kohli first to score 500 runs in bilateral ODI series

India captain Virat Kohli broke yet another record when he became the first ever batsman to amass 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series, surpassing teammate Rohit Sharma. Kohli achieved the stellar feat in the sixth and final ODI against South Africa here. He smashed three hundreds in the series, including in the final ODI, to lead from the front. Sharma had collected 491 runs in the six-match home series against Australia in 2013-14. Kohli also became the the highest-scorer in a bilateral ODI series as captain, leaving behind the likes of Australian George Bailey (478 runs versus India in 2013-14), South African AB de Villiers (367 versus Pakistan in 2012-13 ), de Villiers (358 versus India in 2015-16) and New Zealand skipper Kane Willamson (346 versus Pakistan in 2014-15).

Pune remain in hunt for play-offs spot after draw against Bengaluru

Pune FC kept their play-offs hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against debutants Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League here today. Pune Coach Ranko Popovic would be happy with result as his team managed to remain second on the points-table with 29 points, having scored 28 goals in 16 matches. Bengaluru, who have already qualified for the play-offs, are still table-toppers with 34 points after finding the net on 31 occasions in 16 matches. Pune got the first goal of the match in 22nd minute and Bengaluru in 76th minute. The visitors scored their first goal through Sarthak Goluli, giving coach Popovic something thing to smile about. It was a team goal as Marcelino Leite Pereira turned his marker down and laid it off for Emiliano Alfaro Toscano, who squared it off for Sarthak. Bengaluru got the equaliser in 76th minute through Miku after he tapped a cross from Semboi off a faulty clearance from Baljit Sahni. The hosts nearly had their first goal in 69th minute when the referee unfortunately .

I-League: Indian Arrows hold Aizawl to 2-2 draw

Indian Arrows staged yet another comeback as they held ten-man Aizawl FC to a 2-2 draw in their I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan here on Friday.

Coach Emery optimistic about PSG's chances in CL

Paris Saint Germain's Spanish coach Unai Emery on Friday said his team could still eliminate Real Madrid from the UEFA Champions League despite the unfavourable result in their round-of-16 first leg.

Real Madrid's Kroos suffers left knee injury

Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kroos on Friday was diagnosed with a left knee injury that will exclude him from the upcoming matches of the Spanish League, according to a club statement.

CCI Snooker: Chawla knocks out Advani to enter quarter finals

Railways Kamal Chawla pulled off a big upset victory when he knocked out ace cueist Pankaj Advani 5-2 to enter the quarter finals of the CCI Open Snooker championship here today. Another top cueist who has also played in the pro snooker circuit in England like Advani, Aditya Mehta, was nearly toppled by veteran Yasin Merchant, a former Asian champion and ex-professional, before coming through with a 5-4 verdict in a pulsating pre quarter final. In the Chawla-Advani clash, the former took off well by winning the first and third frames which was neutralised by the latter who won the second and fourth. Thereafter, Chawla was the steadier of the two players and posted a 64-19, 37-80, 80-56, 12-63, 110-25, 68-55, 68-40 victory to sail into the semis. Mehta looked in fine touch against veteran Merchant and compiled crucial breaks of 66 and 48 in the second and third frames on way to a commanding 4-0 lead before the latter got into the groove with a splendid run of 111 to win ..