Virat Kohli faces tough questions over India selection in South Africa

India's captain Virat Kohli admitted South Africa had thoroughly outplayed his team, and answered every question lobbed his way, until the selection debates. (AP)
Updated 18 January 2018
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Virat Kohli faces tough questions over India selection in South Africa

PRETORIA: The Delhi-based Mail Today led with “Surrender” in bold red. Mumbai Mirror opted for “Disaster Waiting to Happen”. Mid-day chose “India lose, Kohli loses it!” Only the Bangalore-based Deccan Herald went for humor, “Lungi wraps it up for South Africa,” said their headline. Lungi, in addition to being the first name of South Africa’s latest pace ace, is a sarong worn in the south of India.
These were not the sort of headlines Virat Kohli has grown used to over the past couple of seasons, as India swept all before them at home. They certainly are not what he would have chosen to read the morning he was named ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2017. But it was not just the headlines that savaged a team that has already lost twice as many Tests in 2018 as they did in the two previous years.
Much of the coverage dealt with Kohli’s behavior at the post-match press conference. He admitted South Africa had thoroughly outplayed his team, and answered every question lobbed his way, until the selection debates that have shadowed this entire tour came into the picture.
“How much does this loss hurt, that despite having that formula (that worked in similar conditions back home), you could perhaps not get the best XI out and win this match?” he was asked.  
“What’s the best XI?” he asked back, clearly irked by the line of questioning.
The journalist continued: “Was it your best XI?”
Kohli responded: “But if we had won this, was this the best XI?”
“Again, It’s a pitch that was much more subcontinental,” said the journalist.
“I’m saying that we don’t decide the XI according to the results,” said Kohli.
“You tell me the best XI and we’ll play that. I’m saying the loss obviously hurts. But you make one decision and you back it. Didn’t we lose in India? We had the best XI there. Whoever plays should be good enough to go out there and do the job for the team. That’s why we’ve got such a big squad. Because we believe in their abilities and they are good enough to be at this level, but you need to do that collectively as a team. We played with teams before that have looked really strong, and have lost as well. So, I certainly don’t bend toward that opinion at all.”
One fire doused, another was set alight. One of the local scribes pointed to the inconsistency in Indian selection, with different XIs having played in each of the 34 Tests in which Kohli has led.
“To win Test matches you need consistency, and you have been lacking that part,” he said. “How would you say that you will continue changing your team and still expect different results?”
It was more statement than question, and Kohli snapped.
“How many Test matches have we won out of 34?” he shot back. “21 wins (20 in reality). Two losses (there have been five). How many draws?”
“How many in India?” asked the journalist, not taking a backward step.
“Does it matter?” said Kohli. “Wherever we play, we try to do our best. I’m here to answer your questions, not to fight with you.”
With the greenest of pitches awaiting India at The Wanderers next week, that line of inquiry is not going to go away any time soon.

YOUNG GUNS
Three of the top-order batsmen selected for this series — Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma — average less than 30 in the four countries where India have struggled the most in recent times — South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand. Since the turn of the decade, they have won one and lost 17 of 24 Tests played in those countries.
Given such underwhelming records, I asked Kohli whether he was tempted to look outside the current playing group, and consult someone like Rahul Dravid, the former batting great who now coaches both the Under-19s and the A team.
After all, Kohli himself was drafted into the ODI side at 19, soon after he led India to Under-19 glory, because the selectors felt he was someone they could build the team of the future around. At the time, he was picked ahead of those with far more impressive domestic records.
“We will have to sit down and discuss those things,” said Kohli. “It almost has to be a madness to be able to win away from home. And you have to live that every minute, every day of being on tour. It is a very individual thing, but we need to discuss this as a team for sure.
“The selectors will come into the conversation as well when we are looking at planning for future tours, because we have a lot of cricket away from home. This was not the only tour.”
Shreyas Iyer, a 23-year-old who has played three ODIs and who averages 54 in first-class cricket, is one of those on the fringes. Another romantic option, for a country that capped Sachin Tendulkar at 16, would be Prithvi Shaw, currently leading the Under-19s at the World Cup in New Zealand. He already has five first-class hundreds in a career that is only nine games old.
Back in 1996, on a tour of England, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were thrown into the deep end. It would be a big surprise if Kohli did not think of a new swimmer or two before he heads to England in late June.


Zahabi sends UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo into retirement after beating him at UFC 315

Aiemann Zahabi, top, following his win over Jose Aldo during their UFC 315 mixed martial arts featherweight bout in Montreal Sat
Updated 11 May 2025
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Zahabi sends UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo into retirement after beating him at UFC 315

  • The fight was originally scheduled to be disputed at the bantamweight division, but was changed to featherweight on Friday after both fighters checked in above the weight limit
  • Canadian Mike Malott (12-2-1) won his fight with American Charles Radtke (10-5) by knockout 26 seconds into the second round of their welterweight bout
  • In the women’s flyweight division, Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3) took down Brazilian Jessia Andrade (26-14) by submission

MONTREAL: Aiemann Zahabi shocked UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo in a featherweight main card fight at UFC 315 on Saturday night, after which Aldo announced his retirement.

Zahabi (13-2) won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) and the Canadian has now won six straight fights.

The fight was originally scheduled to be disputed at the bantamweight division, but was changed to featherweight on Friday after both fighters checked in above the weight limit.

Aldo (32-10), of Brazil, announced his retirement from MMA fighting after a 21-year career.

The card is headlined by welterweight title bout pitting Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena and a women’s flyweight title matchup between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot.

Saturday’s card was the first in Canada since Donald Trump was re-elected US president in November. It comes amid growing political tensions between Canada and the US, as Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, and some of that tension spilled over.

Canadian Mike Malott (12-2-1) won his fight with American Charles Radtke (10-5) by knockout 26 seconds into the second round of their welterweight bout. Malott took down Radtke with a clean left hook and would not let up, striking his opponent with repeated followup blows to seal the knockout.

Radtke was met with jeers and curses from fans throughout the fight in response to comments he made to Canadian fans at a pre-fight news conference on Wednesday and the booing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Canadian sporting events in recent months.

Radtke said “when you all boo the national anthem, somebody’s gonna have to pay for that.”

In the women’s flyweight division, Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-3) took down Brazilian Jessia Andrade (26-14) by submission just over halfway through the first round.

“When I was preparing for this fight, I kept on thinking about it being a quick finish,” said Jasudavicius. “I kept on telling myself to be ready for 15 hard minutes and everything.”

Marc-Andre Barriault (17-9) also knocked out opponent Bruno Silva (23-13) 1:27 into the opening round of their middleweight bout with an elbow struck to the side of Silva’s head. Silva left the octagon on a stretcher.

Benoit Saint Denis (14-3) beat Kyle Prepolec (12-8) by submission in the opening main card fight. The Frenchman took down the Canadian with an arm-triangle choke midway through the second round.

Prepolec only found out less than two weeks ago he would be fighting in Montreal. The 35-year-old was called in to replace Joel Alvarez, who has a hand injury.


T-Wolves grab 2-1 NBA playoff series lead as Celtics claim key win

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards shoots between Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post, left, and forward Jonatha
Updated 11 May 2025
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T-Wolves grab 2-1 NBA playoff series lead as Celtics claim key win

  • Edwards had eight points in the first half but scored 28 points in the second half, 13 in the fourth quarter, and made 10 of his last 16 shots
  • Reserve Payton Pritchard, the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, led Boston’s blowout win with 23 points while Jayson Tatum added 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists

AFP SAN FRANISCO: Anthony Edwards scored 36 points and rallied the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 102-97 victory over Golden State on Saturday to seize the lead in their NBA playoff series.

The Warriors, missing star guard Stephen Curry with a left hamstring strain, dominated defensively before the T-Wolves battled back in the fourth quarter behind Edwards and Julius Randle, who had a triple double with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Asked about the keys to a fightback triumph, Edwards said, “Playing as a team, getting stops on the defensive end and limiting those guys to one shot.”

The Timberwolves took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round playoff series with Game 4 on Monday at San Francisco.

“You can’t ever get too comfortable,” Edwards said. “This is a championship DNA team. This is what they do so we’ve got to be ready at all times.”

Edwards had eight points in the first half but scored 28 points in the second half, 13 in the fourth quarter, and made 10 of his last 16 shots.

“I stunk in the first half,” Edwards said. “But you know, that happens. Shots are going to fall. Shots are not going to fall sometimes. But as long as you trust the work, keep shooting it and shoot with confidence, you’ll be all right.”

He praised Randle’s first playoff triple double.

“He’s big time. He has come through in every game for us in the playoffs,” Edwards said. “The way he’s finding people (with passes) and getting us open looks, I can’t ask for nothing better.”

In Saturday’s only other NBA game, defending champion Boston routed New York 115-93 at Madison Square Garden to pull within 2-1 in their Eastern Conference second-round series with game five Monday in New York.

The Celtics had squandered 20-point leads in two home playoff losses to the Knicks with woeful three-point shooting but Boston hit 20-of-40 from beyond the arc and held firm to the finish to blow out New York, knowing no NBA team down 0-3 had rallied to win a series.

“We understood the magnitude of this game,” Boston’s Jayson Tatum said. “We needed this one. Didn’t like the way we felt after last game so just coming out here with the right mindset, just trying to put it all together.”

At San Francisco, the Warriors led 42-40 at halftime without making a three-pointer — their first playoff first half since 2007 without a hoop from beyond the arc.

Butler, who had 18 first-half points, scored six and Kuminga added five in an 11-0 run that gave the Warriors their first lead at 23-21 early in the second quarter.

Golden State kept the T-Wolves without a basket for the last 6:29 of the second quarter and closed the half on a 13-1 run, but Edwards lifted the T-Wolves onto his shoulders and carried them to the finish with a dazzling second-half surge.

Reserve Payton Pritchard, the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, led Boston’s blowout win with 23 points while Jayson Tatum added 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Jaylen Brown had 19 points and Derrick White scored 17.

“We understand Monday is going to be a great atmosphere, a big game. It’s going to be fun,” Tatum said.

“Just coming out with the right mindset, understanding we played better but we can play a lot better based on a lot of things we did we really didn’t like tonight. So just building off that.”

The Celtics overcame two humbling defeats to boost their chances at Boston’s first back-to-back NBA titles since 1968-69.

“You don’t get into the journey for it to be easy,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It has been dark, but in a good way. You’ve just got to tap into your darkness and that’s it. That’s what we’ve got to do.”

Jalen Brunson led New York with 27 points while Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who have not reached the conference finals since 2000.

“We need to play with more of a sense of urgency,” Brunson said. “I don’t think we came with the mindset we needed. A lot we need to discuss and figure out.”


Marseille and Monaco seal Champions League spots and PSG thrash Montpellier

Marseille’s Algerian forward Amine Gouiri (L) celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal at the end of the French L1 footbal
Updated 11 May 2025
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Marseille and Monaco seal Champions League spots and PSG thrash Montpellier

  • The top three qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, and the fourth team grabs a spot in the qualifying rounds
  • Having won the league with six games to spare, PSG are hoping for their first ever treble, after also qualifying for the Champions League and French Cup final

AP PARIS: Marseille and Monaco sealed spots in next season’s Champions League while Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain beat last-placed Montpellier 4-1 with a Goncalo Ramos hat trick on Saturday.

On the penultimate matchday of the season, Mason Greenwood’s 19th league goal in the 85th minute put second-placed Marseille back in the lead at struggling Le Havre. Amine Gouiri scored twice and Marseille won away 3-1.

Lagging one point behind Marseille, Monaco sealed their 18th win — 2-0 over Lyon — with goals from Takumi Minamino and Denis Zakaria and was also guaranteed to finish among the three best teams. The top three qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, and the fourth team grabs a spot in the qualifying rounds.

Gouiri scored Marseille’s opener after halftime and the match was stopped soon after because of crowd trouble. Pressing to remain in the top flight next season, Le Havre pushed hard for an equalizer and got it when Issa Soumaré beat goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Josue Casimir’s assist.

Greenwood’s superb curled strike from outside the box put the visitors back on track and Gouiri gave more luster to the win in added time on the break.

“At the start of the season, we had trouble playing at the Velodrome, the ball was hot and we were shaking a bit,” Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi said. “We talked about it. The aim was to stay together, united, without putting football first. We put other things first. We spent some time together. We worked a lot on uniting the team and that showed on the pitch. We saw a family and with that we have a better chance of winning.”

After getting past Arsenal midweek to reach the Champions League final, PSG coach Luis Enrique rested seven players: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha.

Senny Mayulu, an 18-year-old midfielder, was given a start and did not disappoint to put PSG ahead before halftime with a powerful strike. Ramos made it 2-0 off a deflection, and added another goal from the spot.

Having won the league with six games to spare, PSG are hoping for their first ever treble. In addition to the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31, Enrique’s team will have another shot at more silverware against Reims the week before in the French Cup final.

Behind Marseille and Monaco, three teams were level on points; Nice, Lille and Strasbourg, who all lost on Saturday. Seventh-placed Lyon can still aim for the fourth spot but will need to win against Angers hoping that the trio of teams all lose.

“There’s a lot of regret, anger and disappointment,” Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette said. “We feel sorry for all the fans who believed in us. We’ve made mistakes all season, but also tonight.”

Saint-Etienne still alive

At the bottom of the standings, last-placed Montpellier were already demoted. There was still a glimmer of hope for Saint-Etienne, who won at Reims 2-0. Saint-Etienne remained in the relegation zone but just one point behind 16th-placed Le Havre, who were in the relegation playoffs spot.


Jeeno Thitikul regains the lead at Liberty National with Nelly Korda on her heels

Jeeno Thitikul has regained the lead going into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open, shooting a 7-under 65 in the third
Updated 11 May 2025
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Jeeno Thitikul regains the lead at Liberty National with Nelly Korda on her heels

  • The LPGA Tour moved up several tees to account for wind strong enough to bend flagsticks, particularly on the closing stretch at Liberty National
  • Thitikul: The strategies for today, I just trying to keep it on the fairway and then on the green

AP JERSEY CITY, N.J.: Jeeno Thitikul handled a strong wind and a double bogey at the turn by making nine birdies Saturday for a 7-under 65 that gave her a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier going into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.

Defending champion Nelly Korda missed a pair of birdie opportunities on the back nine at Liberty National and settled for a 68, leaving her only two shots behind as the No. 1 player in women’s golf goes for her first win of the year.

The LPGA Tour moved up several tees to account for wind strong enough to bend flagsticks, particularly on the closing stretch at Liberty National. That led to some big finishes as players positioned themselves for the final round.

Thitikul, the No. 2 player in women’s golf, was among those who took advantage. She birdied the reachable par-4 16th with water down the right side, picked up another birdie on the 17th and finished at 14-under 202.

“The strategies for today, I just trying to keep it on the fairway and then on the green,” Thitikul said. “I know it’s going to be a really tough day and then I have to be patient out there. So I don’t know how I did that, but like I take it.”

Boutier rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt over a ridge on the 15th — that was a bonus — for the start of three straight birdies. She made par on the 18th for a 66 to leave her one shot behind.

“It was a nice setup today,” Boutier said. “I feel like it was challenging with the wind, but the setup made it possible to have some chances if you were hitting good.”

Korda tried to keep pace with Thitikul and rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the par-3 14th, which runs along the Hudson River across from the Manhattan skyline. But her drive on the 16th left her a bad angle to chip, and she had to settle for par.

With the wind at her back, she judged her wedge perfectly to 4 feet for birdie at the 17th, and her 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th just stayed on the high side of the hole.

“You just have to dial in to small target and you have to be focused 100 percent on each shot,” Korda said of the tough conditions, rain Friday and wind on a clear Saturday. “You knew you were going to make mistakes. Had a pretty solid day.”

Andrea Lee had her third straight 68 and joined Korda at 12-under 204. Yealimi Noh chipped for eagle on the 16th and shot 67. She was three shots behind.

Thitikul, who opened with a 64, followed with a 73 and then came charging out of the gates in the strongest of the wind. She had four birdies on the front nine until hitting into the hazard in the par-4 sixth and making double bogey.

No matter. She responded with two birdies to erase that mistake, and she had three birdies in four holes to start the back nine and stayed ahead of the pack with her two late birdies.

Starting times are much earlier Sunday for the Mizuho Americas Open to be on network television (CBS) for a 3 p.m. finish. The wind isn’t likely to be a strong, though Boutier said that might present a different set of challenges.

“It’s supposed to be a bit less windy. I’m assuming the scores are going to be kind of low, too,” Boutier said. “We’ll see what happens, but happy to be in this position.”


Arnold eager to steer Iraq to 2026 FIFA World Cup

Updated 10 May 2025
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Arnold eager to steer Iraq to 2026 FIFA World Cup

  • Iraq's only appearance at the tournament was in 1986
  • “What is important is we all believe we can win the next two games,” Arnold said

BAGHDAD: Graham Arnold is confident he can help Iraq qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years after he was appointed as the country's national coach on Friday.

Asked whether Iraq can make the cut for the 2026 tournament which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., the Australian told the federation’s website: "That’s my goal.


“That’s what I want to do. I haven’t come here to not be successful, and everyone in this room has to believe that. We can do it.

Iraq's only appearance at the tournament was in 1986, when they were eliminated after the group phase.

Arnold replaced Spaniard Jesus Casas whose contract was terminated by the local soccer governing body in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March.

That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind Jordan with two games left.

The top two nations in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries.

“What is important is we all believe we can win the next two games, that is my first objective for Iraq,” he said.

Arnold's first game in charge will be against South Korea in Basra on June 5. They then face Jordan in Amman five days later.