Amid Retirement Claims, Report Says Kohli Wants To Play Till This Tournament

Has the world seen the last of Virat Kohli in Test cricket, or will he be able to revive his career and enjoy a second wind? The flag-bearer of Indian batting since the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli yelled at himself and punched his thigh, as he got out for the eighth time edging to the slip cordon or keeper in his nine visits to the crease in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 36-year-old's career was hanging by a thread after he once again fell victim to a back-of-length delivery on a sixth-stump line on the second day of the fifth and final Test against Australia, the bowler being the self-effacing but relentless Scott Boland.

His problems seem unsolvable at the moment as it is more mental than technical.

The sameness in the mode of his dismissals mean it has become his second nature to "fish" at deliveries on the corridor of uncertainty.

Kohli batted in nine innings across five Tests and barring the second innings century at Perth in the opening Test, and a 36 in the first innings in Melbourne, he has failed to get going.

Remove the 136 runs he had aggregated over his two innings in Perth and Melbourne, and Kohli is left with just 54 runs across his seven other completed knocks.

For a champion player, it is very difficult to take a decision when he is going through his career's all-time lowest phase.

It is understood that Kohli is in no mood to retire and wants to play for India till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has been constantly saying that the right-hander would continue.

But an ex-national selector looked at the situation differently. He asked how Kohli plans to convince the selectors for the England tour in June without playing any tangible red-ball cricket.

"It would be very hard for selectors to pick either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli on the basis of IPL performance or form. Their has to be some red-ball cricket for them in lead-up to England tour. Else you can't justify their selections," the former selectors told PTI.

If sources are to be believed there is no indication as of now that Kohli intends to play the Ranji Trophy, which restarts from January 23.

Delhi will play Saurashtra from January 23-26 in an away game in Rajkot when the Ranji Trophy resumes.

In the next round of matches from January 30 to February 2, Kohli's state team Delhi is scheduled to play Railways.

However, playing domestic red-ball cricket in India in January and February for Test matches in England in June practically won't make sense.

Kohli lives in his new home in London for better part and only joins the national team or IPL side before the start of a series or tournament.

India's next assignment is a three-match ODI series against England from February 6 followed by the Champions Trophy (from February 19 to March 9) and then the IPL starts on March 14.

Clearly there is no window to play any red-ball tournament for preparation unless he skips the IPL for a county stint to gear up for the England tour.

Kohli is one of the biggest brands of the IPL and he won't be losing a chance to captain RCB once again this year and fulfil his dream of winning at least one IPL trophy before drawing the curtains on his glorious career.

The only other option left is talking to selectors and playing at least couple of India A games during its shadow tour to England just before the senior team's tour begins with the first Test at Leeds from June 18.

As of now, Kohli has played his last Test at SCG. But when the name is as big as Virat Kohli, there could always be a twist in the tale.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Gavaskar Draws 'Young Kohli' Comparison For Konstas, Issues Major Warning

19-year-old Australia opener Sam Konstas has quickly become the talk of the town. Just two Test matches into his career, Konstas' aggressive approach has seen him have both verbal and cricketing clashes with several India players. While Konstas and Virat Kohli clashed shoulders in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne, he had a war of words with India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth Test in Sydney. Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has now drawn an interesting comparison, finding a parallel between Konstas and a young Virat Kohli.

On Day 1 of the fifth Test, Konstas and Bumrah exchanged words after Usman Khawaja took a long time to fix his stance, keeping the bowler waiting.

Konstas' approach has led to him facing occasional sledging from the Indian cricketers, and his style has reminded Gavaskar about Kohli in his youth.

"It's not about the batting; it's about what happens on the field when someone's behaviour stirs things up. It reminds me of a young Kohli who is upfront and provocative, drawing reactions from the opposition," said Gavaskar on the situation, speaking to India Today.

Konstas set the tone right from his first innings on Test debut. The 19-year-old took on Jasprit Bumrah, smashing him for first two sixes in Tests in nearly four years. One of them was a reverse scoop, no less.

"Konstas has suddenly become a figure who gets under the skin of the opposition. He did it in the first innings when no one expected it, and in the second innings, Bumrah had the perfect reply by getting him out," Gavaskar added.

However, Gavaskar warned that Konstas should not get carried away by this reputation, which would in turn make him an easy target for opponents.

"I think Konstas might be getting a bit carried away with this new persona. Even Shane Watson, who knows him well, has remarked that this behavior is surprising, as Konstas is usually a quiet and reserved person. It seems like his teammates may have encouraged this aggressive approach, but it's something he'll need to manage as his reputation grows. Whether in the short term or long term, if Konstas continues to be seen as a stirrer, he'll be the one the opposition targets," Gavaskar said.

Konstas has managed scores of 60, 8 and 23 so far in three innings against India.

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2nd Test: Pakistan In Trouble After Rickelton Leads South African Run Feast

Pakistan were reeling in response to a relentless South African batting performance on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday. Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Ryan Rickelton led South Africa to a first innings total of 615. Kagiso Rabada struck twice and Marco Jansen once when Pakistan started their innings. The tourists were effectively four down because opening batsman Saim Ayub was ruled out of the match with a broken right ankle.

Babar Azam, forced to open the batting in Ayub's absence, was 31 not out at the close with his side still 551 runs behind.

Left-handed opening batsman Rickelton made a chanceless 259, South Africa's joint seventh highest Test score, before he was seventh man out with the total on 557.

South African captain Temba Bavuma opted to keep Pakistan in the field until the last man, 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka, was out 40 minutes after tea.

By then, South Africa had added 299 runs to their overnight 316-4, scoring at almost five runs an over.

Resuming on 176, Rickelton was content to play the anchor role while Kyle Verreynne hit 100 off 147 balls in a sixth-wicket partnership of 148 off 222 deliveries.

Verreynne holed out to deep midwicket after an innings which included five sixes as well as nine fours, but Rickelton continued to bat flawlessly while Jansen thrashed a 42-ball half-century.

A rapid seventh-wicket stand of 86 was ended when Rickelton was caught at mid-on going for a big hit after batting for 607 minutes. He faced 343 balls and hit 29 fours and three sixes.

Jansen was out for 62 off 54 balls, but Keshav Maharaj hit 40 off 35 deliveries as the bowlers continued to take a pounding.

South Africa's innings ended when Maphaka was bowled second ball for nought to become the 100th Test wicket for Mohammad Abbas.

At 18 years 270 days, Maphaka became South Africa's youngest Test player when the match started on Friday.

Abbas took three for 94, while wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan held six catches in the South African innings.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was caught at first slip off Rabada for two in the first over of his team's reply.

Kamran Ghulam was bowled by Jansen for 12 and Saud Shakeel was out for nought, providing a second catch for David Bedingham at first slip off Rabada.

Pakistan were floundering at 20-3, before Babar and Rizwan put on an unbeaten 44 for the fourth wicket as the day's play ended.

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Barcelona vs Barbastro Live Streaming Copa Del Rey: When And Where To Watch

Barcelona vs Barbastro Live Streaming Copa Del Rey Live Telecast: Barcelona return to action after the New Year's break as they face a trip to take on minnows Barbastro in the Round of 32 tie of the Copa Del Rey. Barcelona are the most successful side in the history of the competition, having won the King's Cup a record 31 times. Hansi Flick's side, however, travel to Barbastro without Pau Victor and Dani Olmo as the Catalan giants have been on hold over a financial and administrative limbo that prevented their registration beyond 2024.

Their opponents, Barbastro, play in the 4th division of Spanish football, Segunda Federacion, and reached the Round of 32 after beating the other LaLiga side from the Catalan capital, Espanyol, 2-0 in December.

Both teams met in the Round of 16 last season with Barcelona winning 3-2 at Barbastro courtesy of goals from Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

When will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match be played?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be played on January 4.

Where will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match be played?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be played at the Municipal de Deportes, Barbastro, Aragon, Spain.

What time will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match start?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will start at 11:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will not be telecast anywhere in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be streamed live on FanCode app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

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PM Modi Calls Koneru Humpy "A Sporting Icon" After Meeting With Chess Ace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called Grandmaster Koneru Humpy "a sporting icon" after she met him following her recent triumph in the FIDE Women's World Rapid Chess Championship in New York. With her family in tow, Humpy met the PM and described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime privilege." Modi tweeted after the meeting, "Glad to have met Koneru Humpy and her family. She is a sporting icon and a source of inspiration for aspiring players. Her sharp intellect and unwavering determination are clearly visible. She has not only brought immense pride to India but has also redefined what excellence is." Humpy capped a wonderful year for Indian chess by defeating Irene Sukandar of Indonesia to emerge champion in the prestigious tournament in New York on Sunday.

"It was an incredible honor and a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to meet our esteemed Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji, alongside my family. The experience was truly unforgettable filled with inspiration and encouragement. Thank you, sir, for this remarkable moment!" Humpy wrote on 'X'.

Glad to have met Koneru Humpy and her family. She is a sporting icon and a source of inspiration for aspiring players. Her sharp intellect and unwavering determination are clearly visible. She has not only brought immense pride to India but has also redefined what excellence is. https://t.co/4H4sFrmq5E

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2025

Humpy had won the event back in 2019 at Georgia and the Indian No. 1 is only the second player after China's Ju Wenjun to clinch the title more than once.

Humpy's achievement laced a sensational year for the chess fraternity after D Gukesh defeated China's Ding Liren to emerge champion in the classical format World Championship recently in Singapore.

In September, India had also won its first-ever gold medals in Open and Women's categories in the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

The Indian, who started the tournament in New York with a first-round defeat, was the lone winner in the 11th and final round, helping her to top the tables with 8.5 points, half a point clear of six others including compatriot D Harika.

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2nd Test: Rickelton, Bavuma Centuries Put SA In Strong Position vs Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma hit centuries and batted South Africa into a strong position on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday. South Africa were 316 for four at the close of play. Rickelton (176 not out) and South African captain Bavuma (106) put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three. At that stage South Africa were in danger of wasting the advantage of winning the toss on a good batting pitch. But Rickelton and Bavuma were seldom troubled as they posted a fifty partnership off 66 balls and scored consistently at better than four runs an over throughout their stand.

It was the left-handed Rickelton's second Test century in three matches, following a shaky start to his Test career in which he had failed to register a half-century in his first 12 innings. He was in commanding form, striking 21 fours and a six off 232 balls.

Bavuma recorded the fourth Test hundred of a career in which he has made 24 half-centuries. He was out 15 minutes before the close, caught behind off occasional off-spinner Salman Agha. He hit nine fours and two sixes in a 179-ball innings.

Despite taking three wickets before lunch, it was a lacklustre performance by Pakistan, who only managed to bowl 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours and seldom looked threatening.

Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury when he fell awkwardly in the outfield in the seventh over of the day. He was taken to the dressing room on a mobile stretcher and did not return to the field.

Pakistan's hopes rose when Aiden Markram was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad for 17 after he and Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket.

Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed in quick succession shortly before lunch, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas and Agha respectively. But the rest of the day belonged to South Africa.

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Average Less Than Bumrah: Virat Kohli's Embarrassing Record A New Low

Questions around Virat Kohli's Test career are bound to intensify, with the poster boy of Indian cricket continuing on an embarrassing path with the bat. For the 6th time since the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, Virat was dismissed while chasing an outside-off delivery. Kohli faced a whopping 68 balls with patience, scoring 17 runs before engaging with another 6th stump delivery, and ended up landing an easy catch into the hands of Australian debutant Beau Webster in slips.

Courtesy of his dismissal, Kohli went on to register an embarrassing record, as he recorded the second-lowest average in Test cricket, counting matches since the start of 2024. In fact, Kohli is the only mainstream batter in the top 4, with the other three being bowlers.

Lowest first innings averages since the start of 2024:

1. Keshav Maharaj - 5.4

2. Virat Kohli - 7

3. Jasprit Bumrah - 8

4. Shoaib Bashir - 8.3

(Figures till Virat Kohli's dismissal in the first innings of the Sydney Test. Counting only those who have played at least 5 innings.)

Kohli could've lost his wicket on the first ball he faced but Steve Smith dropped his catch in the slips, though he has the opposite stance on the matter. Smith seemed to have let the ball touch the ground as he tried to grab the ball in slips. The third umpire eventually ruled the decision in Kohli's favour, giving him a lifeline. 

The star batter looked to dig deep, play with patience but wasn't able to prolong is stay in the middle. Though he played over 60 balls, runs couldn't flow freely from Kohli's bat.

With only one innings left before the series concludes, Kohli's failure in the second outing at Sydney could result into his long-term exile from the Test squad. Reports of Rohit Sharma calling it quits are already making rounds on the internet. If Kohli fails again, his return to India's Test side could also be in jeopardy.

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Premier League Chief Fears Club World Cup's Impact On Man City And Chelsea

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters fears this year's Club World Cup could create "great difficulty" for Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of next season's English top-flight campaign. The two clubs will be England's representatives in FIFA's expanded 32-team event in the United States, with players' unions threatening legal action on welfare grounds and national leagues unhappy about the potential knock-on effects on their own competitions. The Club World Cup final is due to be played on July 13, with the 2025/26 Premier League season starting on August 16.

"The leagues and the players' unions are not happy with the decisions that are being taken at a global level," Masters told Sky Sports. "We've seen the Club World Cup come in, and obviously that is going to have an impact on the Premier League. 

"If either Manchester City or Chelsea get to the final of that competition, the Premier League starts four weeks later, and all players are supposed to have three weeks off as part of the contractual commitment.

"So how does that work? With great difficulty I would say."

Masters, meanwhile, insisted English football is "not on a financial precipice" as he reiterated the Premier League's concerns about the potential impact of an independent regulator on the game.

The Premier League spent more than £45 million ($56 million) in legal costs during the 2023/24 season as it attempted to uphold its rules amid challenges from clubs.

And there will have been additional and significant legal fees this season for the Premier League given their major disciplinary case against Manchester City is still ongoing. 

The reigning champions were charged in 2023 with more than 100 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

An independent commission heard the case between September and December, with an outcome now pending.

City have also challenged the legality of the league's associated party transaction (APT) regulations, which seek to ensure deals done with organisations linked to a club's ownership are at a fair market value.

Both the current and former British government's aim in supporting an independent regulator is to safeguard the financial sustainability of clubs in the top five tiers of English football.

Masters, however, insisted too many regulations could damage the excitement on which the Premier League thrives. 

"We have that jeopardy, we have that constant fizz of compelling entertainment," he said.

"There are many different reasons (for the Premier League's global popularity) but that, I think, is what separates us from others."

He added: "We have always been pro investment within measured risks. The Premier League is not a pension fund, it is a place where capital is put at risk. There is no certainty of outcome -- that is one of the things that makes it interesting.

"We do worry that a new regulatory function might be risk-averse and might inhibit clubs' ability to invest. And the ability to invest is key to competitive balance, and that jeopardy that I'm talking about."

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