Having just shown Luke Williams the door, Swansea City are now reportedly exploring the chance to sign a young Premier League coach alongside two other reported options.
Swansea sack Luke Williams
Sat as low as 17th in the Championship, defeat at the hands of Stoke City proved a step too far for Williams, who Swansea sacked in pursuit of turning their campaign around in the closing months. After one victory in his final 10 games, his exit seemed inevitable and now whoever does arrive, has quite the task on their hands in Wales.
Releasing a statement on the news, Swansea chairman Andy Coleman said: “This was a difficult decision and one that has not been taken lightly. Luke has led the club through some challenging periods and we appreciate his hard work.
“I am aware of the effort he and his staff have put in throughout the last 13 months for Swansea City. I want to personally thank Luke, Ryan and George for their dedication and the sacrifices they have made on behalf of the club.
“Unfortunately, since the turn of the year our performances and results have not been of the standard required at this level. Ultimately, that has led us to conclude a change is required in order to bring about an improvement in our showings on the pitch.
“We will keep supporters informed of developments when we are in a position to announce a new head coach, while Alan, his staff and our squad focus on our upcoming fixtures.”
Swansea eyeing young Premier League coach
With Derby County recently replacing Paul Warne with John Eustace and Blackburn Rovers forced to commence their search for a replacement as a result, Swansea have joined the managerial merry-go-round and have already reportedly lined up some options.
According to Darren Witcoop, Swansea are now exploring the chance to hire Ryan Mason alongside free agents Des Buckingham and Rob Edwards.
Mason, a once-capped England international, has enjoyed just seven games throughout his managerial career, which first came as interim boss in place of Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur – taking charge of their Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
Since that day, he’s enjoyed further experience in the technical area in North London – taking charge of six games at the end of the 2022/23 season before Ange Postecoglou’s arrival and winning twice.
Now the Australian’s assistant, it’s fair to say that Mason would be the most inexperienced option on Swansea’s list. That said, the Swans haven’t been afraid of giving young English managers a chance in the past. Graham Potter instantly comes to mind, as does Russell Martin. So, it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Mason could now be next.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
He’s been waiting some time for an official managerial debut, but after working under Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Postecoglou, the 33-year-old should be ready to take everything he has learned into the technical area on a permanent basis.
It would be a risk by Swansea, but with their ambitions a world away in the Championship, they have an ideal opportunity to take a gamble on Mason.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl has revealed that his side may be missing several players through injury when they face Sunderland on Friday night.
Sheffield Wednesday injury news
The Owls will be looking to right the wrongs of their 4-0 defeat to Burnley last weekend when they welcome the Black Cats to Hillsborough on Friday. A win, and it could keep the Owls’ faint hopes of a top six spot alive, but they will have to do it without one key attacker.
Boost for Rohl as "brilliant" Sheffield Wednesday star returns to training
Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has provided an update on one of his injured players.
ByBrett Worthington Feb 26, 2025
Leading up to this game, Rohl revealed a fresh blow as winger Anthony Musaba suffered an injury setback, meaning he will miss the game against Sunderland and likely a few more.
“At first it looked good; he trained on Sunday (after the Coventry game), but he got a small reaction. Now he has had two rejections,” Rohl said.
“I hope it is this week, then next week, and then before Plymouth he is back. Sometimes at first an issue starts in one part of the body, and then maybe with some different movements it goes into another part. It is a shame, but he is positive, and I think he will be available for the end of the season, maybe the last eight or nine games. We are working on it; he is still positive. It is harder, of course, to have him out of the squad.”
Dominic Iorfa in action for Sheffield Wednesday.
However, in positive news, Rohl did reveal that defender Dominic Iorfa is close to a return, although he won’t be available for the game against Sunderland, but could be back in the matchday squad after the March international break.
Wednesday may have several undisclosed injuries vs Sunderland
But they are not the only players to possibly miss the match on Friday, as Rohl has revealed that Michael Smith is a doubt for the game and there may be many more who are missing through injury.
Smith, who has been dubbed a “game-changer” by former Owls boss Darren Moore, has featured in 31 Championship games this season, scoring eight goals in the process, but Wednesday may have to do without him and many more for the game against Sunderland, as Rohl has revealed it’s been a “tough week” with injuries and “you’ll see” for when it comes to who is available on the night.
As quoted by the Daily Star, Rohl said in his pre-match press conference: “In general, I won’t speak about names. But I can just say that it’s been a tough week for us – and you’ll see tomorrow why… There could be players missing. Michael Smith is one of the question marks.
Michael Smith’s 24/25 Championship stats
Apps
31
Starts
11
Minutes per game
42
Goals
8
xG
5.75
Shots per game
1.3
Chance conversion
20%
Assists
4
Big chances created
5
“Ibi was ill during the week, so let’s see on him – today he trained. Ryo has trained for a full week. Some players are coming closer, Dom is coming closer, but we have three or four big question marks this week. We have to find solutions, but I’m convinced the team on the pitch will be on fire.”
Um dos momentos mais emblemáticos do Corinthians completa 10 anos nesta segunda-feira (27). Há uma década, o, então desconhecido, Romarinho entrava no segundo tempo do duelo contra o Boca Juniors, em Buenos Aires, para entrar na história corintiana ao marcar o gol do empate em 1 a 1 na ida das oitavas de final da Libertadores.
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Capitão daquele elenco e atual gerente de futebol do Timão, o ex-lateral-direito Alessandro Nunes relembrou o episódio na Argentina.
While he was optimistic about their future in Tests, Simmons ruled out the possibility of coaching West Indies again
Andrew McGlashan07-Dec-2022
Phil Simmons took over the head coach role in 2019•ICC via Getty
Phil Simmons enters his final days as West Indies coach believing he has given his all in the role and hopes the foundations are in place for a revival of their Test cricket.Simmons’ departure was announced after the team’s early exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup when they failed to make it out of the first round. That was a continuation of some dire white-ball form – which is also likely to see them have to go through the qualifying tournament for next year’s ODI World Cup – and led Cricket West Indies to initiate a review which includes Brian Lara and Mickey Arthur on the panel.Related
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However, there have been some encouraging signs in their Test cricket. The 164-run defeat in Perth was their first loss in six matches this year, while there have been other notable high points in Simmons’ second stint as a coach, which began in October 2019. They include the one-wicket victory over Pakistan in Jamaica and the 2-0 away victory against Bangladesh, where they chased 395 to win the opening Test and took the second by 17 runs.”[I feel] good, from the point of view that every time I come out and every time I’m part of West Indies, I give everything I can give,” Simmons said ahead of the Adelaide Test. “I will give all for the next six days and let’s hope we can come out with a win, so I finish on a high.”We’ve lost one Test in a year, and it’s shown in the way we’ve played – especially the series against England where we had to fight for a few games then come out on top in the last – that some progress has been made. For me, the joy is seeing people improve. You’ve had Jermaine [Blackwood], who is going into his 50th Test [in Adelaide] and he was out for a while, now we see the difference in him. It’s little things like that that bring joy to me.”Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul defied Australia in the first Test•Getty Images
As he leaves the West Indies national set-up again, Simmons hoped the game in the Caribbean could make the changes required to give the players the best chance to succeed. The Test, ODI and T20 sides now look significantly different from each other with the emergence of Jayden Seales and the recent debut of Tagenarine Chanderpaul bringing cause for optimism in the Test group.”My big hope for West Indies cricket is we get things in order at home, we put things in place so that every team can start improving and moving up the ladder,” he said. “Think the Test team has shown the way so far. In the last few years, we haven’t had good success in white-ball [cricket] but the talent is always there. What we do on the ground to harness that talent is what will get us back to where we are supposed to be.”The captain [Kraigg Brathwaite] keeps setting the standard, and with Tage [Tagenarine] next to him, now think that example will be set so everyone else can follow it. It augurs well for our batting line-up, [there’s] a lot more grit and determination. [In] the last few years, the bowling has done their work, now the batting is coming. Sooner or later it will all come together.”Casting his eye a little wider, Simmons could see the possibility of Test cricket becoming a higher-tempo game, referencing England’s extraordinary approach this week in Rawalpindi, but stressed that it was important that each side played to their style.”In the next few years, the game will just keep going faster and faster,” he said. “We saw a Test in Pakistan and it’s just unbelievable; the game will keep getting like that. ODI cricket brought speed to Test cricket, and now T20 is bringing speed to both forms. We’ll see how fast it gets in the next few years. But the way you play depends on the tools you have. If we don’t have all the big shot-makers that England have right now, then we play in our way.”Simmons remains keen to stay in cricket and will be the head coach for Dubai Capitals in the inaugural ILT20 next month. But on the prospect of coming back to West Indies again, he said: “Think you can rule out that third stint. That’s enough for me. I’d like a lot more time at home.”
حُسمت هوية طرفي مباراة نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية 2025، بعد انطلاق منافسات نصف نهائي البطولة مساء يوم الأربعاء والخميس.
والتقى البرتغال مع نظيره ألمانيا في نصف نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، مساءً الأربعاء، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “أليانز أرينا”.
طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة إسبانيا والبرتغال اليوم في نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية.. والمعلق
ونجح منتخب البرتغال في التأهل إلى نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية عقب فوزه على ألمانيا بهدفين مقابل هدف.
من جهة أخرى، واجه منتخب إسبانيا خصمه منتخب فرنسا، في نصف نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، مساءً الخميس، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “مرسيدس بنز أرينا”.
وتأهل منتخب إسبانيا إلى الدور ذاته وذلك بعدما تخطى منتخب فرنسا في مباراة مثيرة انتهت بنتيجة 5/4 لصالح المنتخب الإسباني. موعد مباراة إسبانيا والبرتغال في نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية 2025
ستُقام مباراة نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، بين إسبانيا والبرتغال، يوم الأحد 8 يونيو الجاري على ملعب “أليانز آرينا” في مدينة ميونيخ الألمانية، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.
Setting their sights on defensive additions, PIF are reportedly considering a summer swoop to sign a former Serie A centre-back who could return to European football courtesy of Newcastle United this summer.
Newcastle transfer news
Finally in position to welcome reinforcements, PIF are set for an important summer at St James’ Park. First and foremost, keeping hold of Alexander Isak should be their biggest priority. The Swedish striker has been one of the Premier League’s most clinical players throughout the current campaign and looks like a player destined for the very top.
Amid interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal, the Magpies face quite the battle to keep hold of their star man, but also look set to focus on reinforcements of their own.
According to TVPlay (as relayed by Sport Witness), PIF are now considering a move to sign Kalidou Koulibaly, using their Saudi Arabia links to their advantage to welcome the defender back to European football from Al-Hilal.
Signed by Howe: Newcastle hit gold on "fearless" ace worth more than Tonali
He’s got the potential to become a Premier League superstar in the years to come.
ByAngus Sinclair Feb 21, 2025
However, the deal won’t come cheap, given that the former Napoli defender reportedly earns as much as £553,000 a week in Saudi Arabia. Whether the Magpies match that salary remains to be seen, but they could certainly do with another centre-back.
At 33 years old, Koulibaly would add instant experience alongside the likes of Fabian Schar and Sven Botman, which would prove particularly key if Newcastle qualified for the Champions League this season.
Newcastle defender Sven Botman.
With money to spend, Newcastle should finally be among those to watch this summer.
"Strong" Koulibaly has vital experience
Whilst there will be concerns over Koulibaly’s salary and his ability to step back into Europe’s top league for the first time since leaving Chelsea, his experience is undeniable. In the Champions League, Premier League and Serie A, it wasn’t often that the 33-year-old failed to impress. Now, it’s Newcastle who could take full advantage.
Earning plenty of praise from Thomas Tuchel during his time at Chelsea, the former Blues boss told reporters after his first start for the club: “He is a very, very good signing. A strong personality, a strong player. I am happy that he could play 70 minutes now. He’s getting fitter and fitter which is very important for us for the start of the season.”
What would help those at St James’ Park is the clear link between PIF and Saudi Arabia. If Newcastle have the finances available, then a deal to sign Koulibaly, on paper, should be fairly simple.
That said, it remains to be seen whether they’ll look past his age and salary as they aim to add depth to their backline.
Sixth-wicket stand of 80 gives hosts hope until double-strike on stroke of lunch sets up win
Andrew Miller12-Dec-2022
Mark Wood broke through for England•Getty Images
England 281 (Duckett 63, Pope 60, Abrar 7-114) and 275 (Brook 108, Duckett 79, Abrar 4-120) beat Pakistan 202 (Babar 75, Shakeel 63, Leach 4-98) and 328 (Shakeel 94, Imam 60, Wood 4-65) by 26 runsRaw pace in a raw match situation. It’s the weapon for which England have been crying out throughout their generations of failure on unforgiving subcontinent wickets – that point of difference to unlock well-set batters and deliver the moments that make victory possible. On a nerve-shredding fourth and final day in Multan, Mark Wood was that man, as Pakistan’s gutsy pursuit of 355 was thwarted with just 26 runs left to defend.The honour of taking the final wicket went to Ollie Robinson – Player of the Match in Rawalpindi – as Pakistan’s last man Mohammad Ali snicked a thin edge through to Ollie Pope to seal England’s first series win in the country for 22 years, and their eighth Test victory in nine since the start of the Ben Stokes captaincy era. But Wood’s final figures of 4 for 65 were the gamebreaker – specifically, his two priceless wickets in the final minutes before lunch, to crack a formidable sixth-wicket stand between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz that, for much of the morning session, had seemed on course to deliver a stunning series-leveller.In a fire-and-ice partnership of 80 in 21.5 overs, Shakeel had been the sheet-anchor while Nawaz carried the attack back to England’s bowlers, to whittle down the requirement deep into double figures. But in the space of six Wood deliveries, both men were blasted out via short balls down the leg-side – “strangles”, as you might deem them in ordinary situations. But on this surface, and in this scenario, Wood was bowling to a clear plan, attempting to get his bouncers as straight into body as possible, and bring his leg-side catchers into the game. Perhaps there was no real need to oblige him, but the dynamics of true pace can unsettle even the most well-set.Pope – forever in the action in his supposedly stand-in role as wicketkeeper – was the man to scoop up both offerings, although debate will rage about the second, and most crucial, of Wood’s incisions. With a brilliantly gutsy century looming, Shakeel swung into his pull and under-edged his stroke, for Pope to make good ground and scoop the ball millimetres from the turf. Subsequent replays suggested, however, the ball may have made contact with the ground as his gloves closed around the chance, but guided by Aleem Dar’s on-field soft signal of out, third umpire Joel Wilson deemed there was not enough evidence to overturn.The upshot was that Pakistan went to the break on 291 for 7, needing 64 more runs for victory, but despite the irrepressible efforts of the tail – not least Abrar Ahmed – the target would prove tantalisingly out of reach.As if his 11-wicket haul wasn’t enough of an impact on debut, Abrar emerged for the final session in the mood to mash his team over the line – carving James Anderson through midwicket for four before using Wood’s pace against him with three more in four balls, including a dinky ramp through backward point. But with 17 from 11 balls, Abrar made room to flay Anderson through the off-side, and picked out Duckett at short cover to tilt the scales once more.Agha Salman – Pakistan’s last recognised batter – decided his best bet, with 45 now needed, was to chance his arm when the field was up, even if it risked leaving his tail-end partners exposed. Twice he cracked consecutive boundaries off the fifth and sixth balls of an over, first off Anderson and then off a tiring Wood. Twice, however, England hit back with the very first ball of their next over. First, Wood flattened Zahid Mahmood’s off stump to leave Pakistan nine-down and 36 adrift. Then Robinson, back for the first ball of a new spell, hit that immaculate line-and-length that has been his trademark all tour, and though Ali reviewed, thinking the ball had flicked his pad, the replay showed a big snick off his edge as well.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
It was a breathless finish to another pulsating fourth innings, and one that had been keenly in the balance from the very start of the day. With victory or bust beckoning for both teams, Pakistan had resumed on their overnight 198 for 4 – still a taxing but obtainable 157 away – but it was England who made the day’s first move. With a pair of left-handers at the crease, Joe Root was tossed up the ball to turn it away from the edge, and on 10, Faheem Ashraf pushed forward at his habitual round-the-wicket line for Zak Crawley to pouch a sharp chance at slip as the ball straightened and kissed the shoulder of the bat.It was Root’s 50th Test wicket – making him only the third player in history to do the 10,000 runs / 50 wickets double – and at 210 for 5, England were inching into the ascendancy.Shakeel, however, was unruffled as he steeled himself purely for endurance, safe in the knowledge that so long as he was there, Pakistan were very much on track. Nawaz, however – pushed up to No. 7 ahead of Salman – took a more proactive approach to his innings of 45 from 62. By taking on England’s spinners, he persuaded Stokes to turn to the second new ball the moment it became available, and though Robinson caused him some problems with his lifting line outside off stump, Nawaz responded with a crashing drive through the covers to leave Stokes scratching his head as he sized up his options.Root had been Stokes’ initial choice for a share of the new ball, hoping that his round-arm offbreaks might skid on a touch faster, but Nawaz took the attack to him with a brace of proactive boundaries, prompting Anderson to re-enter the fray. He soon induced Shakeel into a low edge for four through the cordon, and that moment perhaps persuaded the batter that taking down the spinners was now Pakistan’s best ploy, with the threat at the other end mounting.Shakeel drilled Jack Leach through the covers for his most forceful stroke of the morning, then top-edged a sweep in the same over that looped away to safety to take him into the 90s. At which point Stokes responded by turning back to Wood, whose round-the-wicket angle leaked another precious boundary as Nawaz flicked a short ball off his hips.That, however, would be the last moment of true progress in the session for Pakistan. Two balls later, Nawaz flicked to Pope, and England’s route to victory had reopened. Wood’s irrepressible will to win meant there would be no denying his side a truly historic victory – only their fourth in more than 60 years of Tests in Pakistan, and their first series win since Nasser Hussain’s triumph in the dark 22 years ago in Karachi, the venue for next week’s finale.
علق أحمد سالم، المتحدث الرسمي باسم نادي الزمالك، على عدم تهنئة الأهلي بالفوز بلقب الدوري المصري خلال الموسم المنقضي.
وحقق الأهلي لقب الدوري المصري الممتاز، موسم 2024-2025، بفارق نقطتين فقط عن بيراميدز الوصيف.
طالع| الزمالك يرد على احتمالية إعلان الأهلي ضم زيزو بعد كأس مصر ويتوعد بالتصعيد وقدم بيراميدز شكوى إلى المحكمة الرياضية الدولية، طالب فيها بخصم ثلاث نقاط من رصيد الأهلي، بعد عدم خوض لقاء الزمالك، وهو الأمر الذي يعني تتويج الفريق السماوي باللقب.
وقال سالم، في تصريحات لبرنامج رقم 10، على القناة الاولى، ردًا على سؤال الإعلامي كريم رمزي “هل قدمت التهئنة للأهلي بالفوز بالدوري؟”، ليرد:” ننتظر عندما يتأكد من هو بطل الدوري”. الزمالك: ننتظر قرار المحكمة الرياضية بشأن لقب الدوري
وأضاف: “رئيس رابطة الأندية قال إنه يلتزم بقرار المحكمة الرياضية أيًا كان، معنى ذلك أن اللقب ما زال معلقًا حتى الآن”.
وكشف “سالم”: “بيراميدز فريق مصري وحقق بطولة كبيرة مثل دوري أبطال إفريقيا، والعلاقات طيبة بين الناديين، وشاهدنا جمهور الزمالك يدعمه”.
Pouca ameaça. Assim pode ser definida a atuação do Botafogo na derrota por 1 a 0 para o Fluminense neste domingo, pela 14ª rodada do Brasileirão. O Alvinegro teve a partida com menor posse de bola desde que Luís Castro chegou ao clube e se viu dominado pelo rival neste sentido do começo ao fim.
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A equipe terminou o jogo com 21% de posse de bola. A estatística reflete, em partes, no que foi visto em campo: o Tricolor criava espaços e furava a defesa do Botafogo com facilidade, enquanto o Glorioso optou por se fechar na esperança de achar uma transição.
Ela até chegou no segundo tempo, quando Tchê Tchê deu bom passe para Saravia nas costas de Caio Paulista, mas o lateral exagerou na força para Erison, livre dentro da área. Além disso, um chute de Matheus Nascimento arrancou suspiros dos torcedores na etapa inicial, mas de encher os olhos. Tirando isso, a produtividade ofensiva do Botafogo não existiu.
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Por outro lado, o Fluminense foi intenso durante todo o jogo. A superioridade numérica se dava pela movimentação de Jhon Arias, sempre atuando no espaço entre as costas de um lateral e um volante e à frente um dos zagueiros. Paulo Henrique Ganso foi o responsável por ‘ditar’ o ritmo e encontrar passes, assim como Nonato.
O Botafogo se resumiu a defender e só não levou mais gols porque os jogadores do Fluminense finalizaram para fora as melhores chances que criaram – Cano e Arias, por exemplo. Gatito quase não trabalhou, é verdade, mas o mesmo não pode se dizer de Carli e Cuesta. De qualquer forma, não foi uma boa atuação defensiva do Glorioso, que ficou correndo o tempo todo atrás dos passes rápidos da equipe de Fernando Diniz.
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Todo esse contexto foi possível porque o meio-campo do Botafogo pouco brigou e construiu chances nas raras oportunidades que teve a posse. O Glorioso só não teve menos ações com bola do que o duelo contra o Internacional, jogo que atuou com um atleta a menos desde os quatro minutos do primeiro tempo.
O Botafogo acertou, ao todo, 121 passes contra o Fluminense. Nonato, por exemplo, acertou 99 sozinho – o que representa 81% do total do Glorioso.
ESTATÍSTICAS DE POSSE DO BOTAFOGO COM LUÍS CASTRO: x Corinthians – 56% e 474 passes (400 certos – 84% de acerto) x Ceará – 35% e 257 passes (177 certos – 69% de acerto) x Ceilândia – 63% e 588 passes (516 certos – 88% de acerto) x Flamengo – 48% e 387 passes (300 certos – 78% de acerto) x Ceilândia – 70% e 669 passes (575 certos – 86% de acerto) x Fortaleza – 63% e 512 passes (433 certos – 85% de acerto) x América-MG – 58% e 516 passes (426 certos – 83% de acerto) x Coritiba – 72% e 485 passes (404 certos – 83% de acerto) x Goiás – 62% e 464 passes (396 certos – 85% de acerto) x Palmeiras – 52% e 440 passes (378 – 86% de acerto) x Avaí – 51% e 415 passes (311 – 75% de acerto) x São Paulo – 33% e 196 passes (276 certos – 71% de acerto) x Internacional – 22% e 178 passes (108 certos – 61% de acerto) x Fluminense – 21% e 182 passes (121 certos – 66% de acerto)
Virat Kohli opens up about going three years without a Test century, and how he prepares to bat in a variety of conditions
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2023
It took a while, but Virat Kohli celebrated Test century no. 28 in Ahmedabad•Getty Images
Rahul Dravid: I have seen this young man [Kohli] score plenty of hundreds, seen him as a player when I was playing, seen a lot of hundreds of his on television, but I have taken over as coach about 15-16 months ago and was a bit desperate to actually to see him score a Test hundred and really enjoy it from the comfort of the dressing room … And it was a beauty. You made me wait a long time, but it was an absolute privilege and a pleasure to watch that innings and the way you constructed it. So really well played.Related
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How do India approach the WTC final without Bumrah?
India, Australia brace for unknowns at WTC final
Dravid: We were in the field for two days and the wicket got a little bit more challenging as the day went on. They tested your patience, they challenged you skill-wise, and mentally as well. What is the mindset? How did you go about doing that? Virat Kohli: Thanks for your kind words, Rahul . As far as approaching this innings was concerned, I knew that I was playing well even in the Test matches before we played this one (Ahmedabad). To be fair it was a really good wicked to bat on, but having said that, the Australians, whatever little help was there in the wicket, they utilised it really well. Their consistency to bowl in the little rough that was created through Mitchell Starc bowling for Nathan Lyon and the other off spinner (Todd Murphy) as well. They capitalised on it really well: the fact that they put a 7-2 field most of the time for me meant that I had to be patient. I had to trust my defence. And that’s the template I’ve always played with in Test cricket: my defence is my strongest point. Because when I defend well then I know that when the ball is loose and it’s there to hit, I can cash in and get the runs that I need. The boundaries were not easy to come by, the outfield was slow, the ball was soft, and they were pretty consistent.The one thing that really calmed me down was: I’m happy to just run ones and twos and score a hundred. I can bat four sessions. I can bat five sessions here. I go into the field relaxed because I know I can bat in many ways. I’m not desperate if I play three sessions and I feel like I’m breaking down here and I need to get fast runs, otherwise I won’t be able to stay out there for long.So for people who must have seen it, or, we have watched you guys back so many times in the past as well, the one thing that stood out was, batting fitness, which was to be able to bat five sessions, six sessions. For that you need to physically prepare yourself. I’m pretty happy scoring 30 runs in a session and not hit a boundary and absolutely not be desperate because I know that boundaries will come, but even if I have to play like this, I can bat six sessions and get 150. I have no issues doing that. So the preparation paid off. It’s not something that you can do for two months or three months. I’ve been doing it for seven, eight years non-stop every day of my life. So when I’m in these situations that naturally comes to the surface and it really helps me in challenging conditions.Virat Kohli: “The fact that they put a 7-2 field most of the time for me meant that I had to be patient. I had to trust my defence”•Getty Images
Dravid: Sometimes as a coach, there’s frustration (hearing a player say) – “oh, this is the only way I know how to play … You mentioned a line there that ‘I feel confident when I go in because I know I can bat in different ways.’ Maybe just elaborate on that a little bit and talk to us on some of the preparation of playing on a turner. You have got a hundred in Perth, you have got a hundred in English conditions. Can you always play the same way all the time? Kohli: No, I don’t think you can play in the same way all the time. You need to adjust according to the conditions that are in front of you. This is one of the main reasons why I have been able to play all formats of the game for so long. The adaptability comes from knowing that physically I can do things in many different ways. Mentally, I can prepare to play a certain way or play in another way, but if my body won’t support it, then I’ll be found out. An example would be, even in this Test match, I would back myself to run six doubles an over for a span of six, seven overs if the scoring rate needs to be upped; it’s not necessarily that I look to clear deep midwicket, and that is my only option because that brings in the risk as well.So that’s why I have been able to bat in different situations and bat differently in different conditions because I was able to take ones and twos and I could do the power-hitting as well. For that you need to have all-round fitness, and that is something that you need to work on every day. You might have a great phase where you feel great, but then if the conditions are challenging and the run-scoring is not ideal, I wouldn’t want to play a bad shot and get out when the team needs me. So I always felt like, how can I prepare better. How can I find more ways to help my team win the game, but in a way that the situation demands me to, not in a way that I prefer to do it this way.Dravid: That’s exactly, for me, the essence of what a team player is: playing to the situation of the team and developing the skills, knowing that the team will be put in different situations and challenging yourself. I mean, we are talking to someone who’s one of the best six-hitters, he could’ve stepped out and hit a six anytime he wanted, but realised what the team needed and played according to that situation. That’s really for me is a sign of an absolute champion cricketer.Virat Kohli: “I’m just happy that it happened at the right time before the World Test Championship finals. I’ll definitely be going there very relaxed and a very excited man”•BCCI
You are someone who takes a lot of pride in your performances, who’s had that habit of scoring hundreds so regularly. I know that a lot of this period there has been Covid, there’s not been a lot of Test matches, but has it been hard? Has it been tough not scoring a hundred … ? Kohli: I have let the complications grow on me a little bit because of my own shortcomings. The desperation to get that three-figure mark is something that can grow on you as a batsman and we have all experienced that at some stage or the other. I let that happen to me to a certain extent, but also the flip side to it is – I’m not a guy who’s happy with 40 and 45. I have always been someone who takes a lot of pride in performing for the team. It’s not like Virat Kohli should stand out. When I’m batting on 40, I know I can get a 150 here and that will help my team. So that was eating me up a lot – why am I not able to get that big score for the team? Because I always took pride in the fact that when the team needed me, I would step up and perform in different conditions in difficult situations. The fact that I wasn’t able to do that was bothering me.Not so much the milestones as such, because I never played for milestones. A lot of people ask me this question, how do you keep scoring hundreds? And I have always told them, a hundred is something that happens along the way within my goal, which is to bat as long as possible for the team and get as many runs as possible for the team. But, yeah, if I have to be brutally honest, it does become a little complicated and difficult because the moment you step out of the hotel room, right from the guy outside the room to the guy at the lift, to bus driver, whoever is saying: we want a hundred.So it does play on your mind all the time, but that’s the beauty of playing for so long as well – to have these complications come up and to overcome these small little challenges. And then when it comes together nicely, like it did in this game, then that gives you an extra gust of air to go beyond, go further and start enjoying the cricket a lot more and be more excited for what’s to come. I’m just happy that it happened at the right time before the World Test Championship finals. I’ll definitely be going there very relaxed and a very excited man.Dravid: Thanks Virat, thanks for your honesty. That’s really a great lesson for a lot of young kids as well to know that even great, champion players at times can feel a certain amount of pressure. The pressure of expectations is because of your own performance.