Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Kohli's focus on 'larger picture' despite hundred heroics

India captain Virat Kohli set his sights on team success rather than personal glory after his hundred in the first Test against England was overshadowed by the tourists' 31-run defeat.

Kohli's magnificent 149 in India's first innings at Edgbaston was his maiden Test century in England.


The 29-year-old, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, had managed just 134 runs in 10 innings during five Tests on his maiden tour of England four years ago.

Not only did he top that total in one knock in Birmingham, he ended the first of this season's five-Test series with exactly 200 runs to his credit after making 51 in the second innings.

But India, set 194 to win, were bowled out for 162 on Saturday's fourth day.

They resumed on their overnight 110 for five, with Kohli 43 not out and India's hopes of victory resting on the shoulders of their star batsman.

But India's bid for what would have been just their seventh win in 58 Tests in England suffered a hammer blow when Kohli was lbw to Ben Stokes, especially as the all-rounder had Mohammed Shami caught behind for a duck three balls later to leave the tourists on the brink of defeat at 141 for eight.

Kohli downplayed his feelings about his 22nd century in 67 matches at this level by telling BBC Radio's Test Match Special: "It was just like any hundred I score. Back in the day I used to think about playing in different conditions, different countries, but when you become captain it’s about taking your team across the line.

"When the focus is on the larger picture, these things don’t matter –- you are able to bat longer than you would've done otherwise and the ability you have inside just unleashes because you're not focused on your personal milestones," added Kohli, who has now scored 5,754 Test runs at an average of 54.28.

Meanwhile Kohli, looking ahead to next week's second Test at Lord's, where India beat England by 95 runs in 2014, insisted his side could bounce back.

"The series is set up nicely now," he said.

"The fact we didn't play to our potential at all and were still close in the game says everything about us as a side.

"If we pull ourselves together, and even play 80-85 percent of the cricket we can, then it’s going to be a very exciting and competitive series."

More For You

Comedian Shalaka Kurup joins The Ladies of Laughter

Shalaka Kurup

Comedian Shalaka Kurup joins The Ladies of Laughter

Eastern Eye

INDIAN stand-up comedian Shalaka Kurup has made a significant impact on the UK scene, earning multiple awards along the way.

Her unique brand of observational humour has connected with audiences from diverse backgrounds, establishing her as a rising star who is set to shine even brighter in the years ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nirmala-Sitharaman-Getty

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the budget speech on Saturday. (Photo: Getty Images)

What to expect from India's budget

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi's government will present the annual budget on 1 February, with a focus on economic growth, job creation, and trade policies amid global uncertainties.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the budget speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
"I didn't know what sexy meant": Jennifer Love Hewitt reflects on being sexualized as a teenager

Jennifer Love Hewitt reflects on her early experiences of being sexualized in Hollywood as a teenager

Getty Images

"I didn't know what sexy meant": Jennifer Love Hewitt reflects on being sexualized as a teenager

Jennifer Love Hewitt recently reflected on her early years in Hollywood, revealing how she was sexualised as a teenager without fully understanding it at the time. In a candid conversation on Mayim Bialik’s 'Breakdown' podcast, the 45-year-old actress shared that at just 16, she was subjected to inappropriate comments from grown men about her body, particularly her breasts. These remarks were often made openly in interviews, which Hewitt now finds disturbing, given the context of her age.

Hewitt, who became famous after starring in I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, recalled how the attention on her physical appearance increased after she appeared on the cover of 'Maxim' in 1999. Men would approach her, mentioning how they took her magazine on trips, but at the time, she didn’t fully grasp the sexual undertones of these comments. “I didn’t know what that meant,” she admitted, adding that it felt strange to be labelled a sex symbol before even knowing what being "sexy" meant.

Keep ReadingShow less
Football with Faris: Arsenal see red after shocking dismissal

The Gunners have now been awarded the most red cards this season, and those decisions were fairly debatable as to whether they should’ve stood. (Photo: Getty Images)

Football with Faris: Arsenal see red after shocking dismissal

Faris Gohir

With the Premier League producing yet another controversial refereeing decision, it is about time the PGMOL are held accountable.

Bizarre red card dished out at Molineux

Keep ReadingShow less
Ambanis-Getty

Billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani with his wife and founder chairperson of the Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani during the wedding reception ceremony of actor Amir Khan's daughter, Ira Khan on January 13, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ambanis set to acquire minority stake in Hundred’s Oval Invincibles

THE OWNERS of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians have reportedly secured a deal to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Oval Invincibles, a franchise in England’s Hundred competition.

Reports on Thursday stated that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which owns Mumbai Indians, emerged as the successful bidder.

Keep ReadingShow less