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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 20, 2017
Last Sri Lanka tour changed India’s mindset, says Kohli By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) The odds were against India the last time they toured Sri Lanka in 2015, but Virat Kohli led the inexperienced side to a comeback win in the Test series which changed the team’s mindset, the captain said yesterday. “That tour for us was a landmark tour,” Kohli told reporters before India’s departure for the island country, where the team will play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 match. “If you look at the average age of that team a couple of years back ... obviously the players have matured from there on.” India lost the first of the three-Test series against their South Asian neighbours but won the next two matches.
They have since gone on to beat West Indies away and registered home victories against South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. Kohli’s men are currently ranked number one in the world. “That tour for us was the start of the belief that we can win, win away from home and we have the side to win away from home.” India arrived in Sri Lanka in 2015 having lost Test series in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, during which long-term captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from the format, handing over the reins to Kohli. The 28-year-old couldn’t lead India to a win in a oneoff Test against Bangladesh, and criticism of the team reached its nadir after the loss in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
“We showed more belief in our abilities and that we could win from any situation,” Kohli said, referring to the victories in the second and third Tests. “That really turned our mindset around. From then on you can see the results.” India’s preparation has been less than ideal this time, too, with head coach Anil Kumble stepping down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Kohli. Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri was named as head coach last week, while Bharat Arun was appointed bowling coach and Sanjay Bangar was named assistant coach, following Shastri’s recommendations. Shastri said he will approach his role with a fresh mind. “Mine will be a refresh
Froome in control as Aru slips down the rankings S E R R E - C H E VA L I E R , France (Reuters) - Chris Froome kept control of his rivals in a gruelling Alpine ride to move a step closer to a fourth Tour de France title yesterday, retaining the leader’s yellow jersey after the 17th stage, won by Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic. The defending champion was attacked by last year’s runner-up Romain Bardet and Ireland’s Dan Martin in the lung-busting ascent to the Col du Galibier but he stayed calm and covered every offensive move. Bardet and Martin’s accelerations, however, were damaging for Fabio Aru as the Italian lost 31 seconds and slipped from second to fourth place overall. Froome leads Colombian Rigoberto Uran and Bardet by 27 seconds each, while Aru is now 53 seconds off the pace. “It is not a massive margin but it’s a margin that I’m relaxed and happy with if I can go into the time trial in Marseille with the same marSouth Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:30 hrs Surf’s Up 09:05 hrs Forest Fox 09:40 hrs Bold Coast 10:15 hrs Babuska Story 10:55 hrs Mrs Bader Irish Racing Tips Killarney 08:35 hrs Le Richebourg 09:05 hrs Nulife 09:35 hrs Double Speak 10:10 hrs Swamp Fox 10:40 hrs Our Dougal 11:15 hrs Dark Outsider 11:45 hrs Clondaw Warrior 12:20 hrs Special Ted
gin I’ll be pretty confident,” said Froome. “My teammates rode out of their skin today. I am certainly feeling a lot better than I did in the Pyrenees which is a great sign and hopefully
tador victory as the two-time champion, too far down in the general classification to threaten Froome, threw caution to the wind with a long-range attack shortly before French President Emmanuel Macron
Chris Froome
I’ll have good legs again tomorrow.” “I was surprised by Aru dropping time today. I expected him to go on the attack but it’s the third week of a Grand Tour that tests everyone and there is no hiding place if you’re having a bad day in the third week.” Cycling enthusiasts had anticipated an Alberto ConEnglish Racing Tips Chepstow 08:50 hrs Demons Rock 09:20 hrs Ragstone View 09:55 hrs Fantasy Queen 10:25 hrs Magic Journey 11:00 hrs Farleigh Mac 11:30 hrs Lucky Clover 12:05 hrs Challow 12:35 hrs Tobouggaloo Hamilton 09:00 hrs Albert Street 09:30 hrs Picks Pinta 10:05 hrs Metisan 10:35 hrs Tor 11:10 hrs X Rted 11:40 hrs Somnambulist 12:15 hrs Cline
went into Tour director Christian Prudhomme’s car to follow the stage until the finish. Today’s stage, a 179.5km ride from Briancon to the 2,360m Col d’Izoard, is likely to be the last-chance saloon for Bardet and Uran to unseat Froome ahead of Saturday’s final time trial, which is expected to favour the Briton. Leicester 09:10 hrs Warm Oasis 09:45 hrs Supreme Power 10:50 hrs Parlance 11:20 hrs Ventura Knight 11:55 hrs Dove Mountain 12:30 hrs One Too many American Racing Tips Gulfstream Park Race 1 Lilokoi Race 2 Pink Mama Race 3 Mighty Mini Race 4 Abtaal Race 5 Awesome Mass Race 6 Catholic Boy Race 7 Sea Cookie Race 8 Wildcat wave Race 9
India’s cricket team captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri listen to a question during a news conference in Mumbai, India yesterday. (Danish Siddiqui)
button that will be pushed and I will carry on from where I left (off). I don’t come with any baggage,” the 55-year-old said. “The team have done exceedingly well over three years and they are the people who deserve the credit more than anybody else. These Ravi Shastris and Anil Kumbles will come and go. The fabric of Indian cricket will remain.”