Kohli, Smith and the old touch
Hindustan Times Haryana|December 25, 2024
Their place among the all-time batting greats is settled, but both will be keen to live up to their own lofty standards.
ASHISH MAGOTRA

MELBOURNE: The India and Australia net sessions are often a beehive of activity with players and coaching staff hustling through the chores to make sure everyone gets what they want. Some want to practice specific shots, others just want to feel bat on ball and the bowlers want to make sure the ball is coming out of the hand fine. But it looks like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith want to bat on and on. If there was a 'value-for-money' tag attached to batting in the nets, we know who the prize would be going to in their respective teams.

Tuesday's sessions saw Smith as energetic as he usually is. He was into the nets early and stayed there for a long time. From net bowlers to throw downs, his method has always been about facing as many balls as possible, while keeping an eye on the nets around him as well. If it is cricket, Smith must be in on the fun. Take, for instance, the moment when Marnus Labuschagne was bowled by Pat Cummins. Both bowler and batter weren't sure what had happened but Smith, who was in the adjacent nets, quipped 'bowled'. When Smith bats, you can almost hear his internal dialogue.

Kohli's session is different. He was among the first Indian batters to get into the nets just after Rishabh Pant. And what strikes one about him is the intensity. While Smith and the other Aussie batters don't mind the chatter behind the stumps (which is where the journalists stand at the MCG), Kohli commands silence and space. Everyone is asked to back away. He isn't averse to shushing the crowd. When Kohli bats, you can feel the smouldering intensity of his determination to succeed.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 25, 2024 من Hindustan Times Haryana.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 25, 2024 من Hindustan Times Haryana.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من HINDUSTAN TIMES HARYANA مشاهدة الكل
Hindustan Times Haryana

Kohli, Smith and the old touch

Their place among the all-time batting greats is settled, but both will be keen to live up to their own lofty standards.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

India face Bangladesh in their CT opener, Pakistan on Feb 23

India will play Bangladesh on February 20 in their opening Group A game of the ICC Champions Trophy, to be played in Dubai as part of the hybrid model agreed for the tournament.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Konstas to debut; Head, Rohit ready to go

Much of the intrigue on Tuesday centred around the fitness of two key figures on either side—Australia's Travid Head and India's Rohit Sharma.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

INDIA GEAR UP FOR WOMEN'S T20 U-19 WORLD CUP TITLE DEFENCE

The India women's cricket team has so far been unsuccessful in winning a World Cup, not even after the big boost of coming under the BCCI fold in 2006.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal shine as India women clinch ODI series

It was a thoroughly dominant all-round performance from India yet again in this series as they defeated West Indies by 115 runs in the second women's ODI and took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara on Tuesday.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Paris heartache over, Chanu focuses on regaining fitness

There's no point in brooding over what's done... I know I need to raise my game if I am to win a medal in Los Angeles. MIRABAI CHANU, Tokyo silver medallist

time-read
3 mins  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Khel Ratna row: Lapse on my part, says Manu

Seeking to end all \"speculations\" after her name was not considered for the Khel Ratna Award, Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker on Tuesday admitted to a possible lapse in her application for the country's top sports award.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

HURT BY IMPORTS, STEELMAKERS EYE SAFEGUARD DUTY

The commerce ministry's investigation into imports of flat steel products and a likely safeguard duty to curb their shipments have sparked optimism of a turnaround for Indian steelmakers after a tepid year marred by slipping sales prices and shrinking margins.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Rupee hits record low for sixth straight session

The Indian rupee weakened to its all-time low for the sixth consecutive trading session on Tuesday as a rise in U.S. bond yields boosted the dollar and strong demand for the greenback from importers added to the lingering pressure on the local currency.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
Hindustan Times Haryana

Agri export policy to get a makeover

India's six-year-old Agricultural Export Policy (AEP) is set for an overhaul as export destinations shift and the country's farm exports basket becomes more diverse, three people directly involved in the process said.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024