Chennai: Star batsman Virat Kohli feels that one quality that he wishes to imbibe from his skipper MS Dhoni is the art of “staying calm” in pressure situations.

“One thing I like about him (Dhoni) is his calmness. I wish I could have some of it. He is someone who doesn’t disclose too much which would let opposition know about what’s going on in his mind. Wish I could get some of it,” Kohli said.

Growing up in the era of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli found it difficult to imagine an Indian team without the senior batsman.

“For 23 years, he has taught us how to perform with so many people expecting you to score a century everyday. It is unbelievable. Growing up, I could never imagine a team without Tendulkar but someday, one needs to take that (retirement) decision,” the 23-year-old batsman told a TV channel.

In a lighter vein though, he said that Tendulkar insisted that a self proclaimed hip hop and R&B lover like him had to listen to old English songs.

“He loved a selected few songs.

“He is a great fan of Kishore Kumar but he made me listen to old English songs with meaningful melody.

“As far as I am concerned, I am listening to Swedish House Mafia a lot these days apart from popular Punjabi numbers.”

He termed Yuvraj Singh as ” an elder brother” whose courageous comeback to international cricket after fighting a rare germ cell cancer was an “inspiration.”

“Courage and mental strength are two things one can learn from Yuvraj. The challenges that he has faced in life and career is something that one can learn from.”

Sunil Gavaskar has compared him with Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi stating that the youngster has the same “flair and panache”.

“You feel humbled when you are compared with a legend like Nawab of Pataudi by another legend Sunil Gavaskar.”

Although there weren’t too many questions on the team’s performance in recent tournaments, Kohli felt that the new ODI rules will be “helpful for batsmen in the sub-continent” while “bowlers will find it beneficial outside the sub-continent.”

Speaking of himself, Kohli said he still has a lot to achieve and wants to win more matches for India.

Earlier in the day, Kohli told reporters at an event here that pressure and challenges were part of the game “but I like it rather than being not there at all.”

“I want to be an achiever. There is a lot left to achieve and I hope I win many more games of India,” Kohli said.

“Sometimes I feel a bit under pressure. But all that is part of being there,” he said. (PTI)

Chennai: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, on Tuesday, that he never expected to don national colours and pointed out that the ‘small-town’ tag has made him a tougher player.

“I never thought I will play for India. I am never worried if I am not selected for a particular game or series but my focus will be on contributing for the next match,” Dhoni said at a panel discussion moderated by commentator Harsha Bhogle.

To a question about his early years in Ranchi, Dhoni said while many did not attach much importance to such small towns, they had a fair bit of senior players to look upto and a decent league cricket.

“Comparatively, Ranchi has (more) senior players. Of course it’s a bit tough to come from a small city but that makes you tougher with the challenges it poses,” he said at the discussion, held as part of a promotional event by a health drink brand.

Dhoni however, expressed, joy over the increased media coverage of sports in such small cities.

Asked how he managed to find time between the game and other engagements, including his endorsement commitments, he said the game was the central part to all the activity.

“It is very easy. You follow cricket.

“If it is not there, nothing else is there. Shoots (for advertisements) help take off the time from cricket as you roam about freely, interacting with important people,” he said.

Stating that he is not one to hit the gym hard, Dhoni said he relaxes once off the field and eats “whatever he wants”.

“I dont compromise on food,” he added.

Sehwag copes with the help of music

Opener Virendar Sehwag, one of the panelists along with former captain Anil Kumble and former coach John Wright, recalled his long journeys in his early days to practice and said that Najafgarh, from where he hails, then used to be known more for its gangsters.

Struggling to come back to the Indian one-day team, the world record holder for the fastest ODI double-century said it is important to “switch on and off” during failures and said he coped by relaxing with family and listening to music.

“My batting is not technically correct,” he admitted, “but I am mentally strong.”

Kumble talked about the importance of both talent and hard work for an aspiring cricketer to make it at the highest level. (PTI)

SHILLONG: Keating Road CC defeated Aparajita CC by five wickets in a First Division league match of the Shillong Cricket League 2012-13, at Polo Grounds on Tuesday.

Keating Road won the toss and put their opponents into bat first. Aparajita then scored an intimidating total of 207-9 in 35 overs. Sandipan Chanda scored 43 runs off 36 balls while Suresh Balmiki took 3-49 in seven overs.

In reply, Keating Road scored chased down the total with time to spare, finishing on 211 for five in 32.1 overs.

Rohit Rai was their hero with the bat, scoring 84 off 66 deliveries, while Mridul Das took 2-29.

Nongthymmai SCC will take on Malki SCC in the next match.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The final of the District Open Knock-Out Basketball Tournament 2013 will be played at the JN Sports Complex, Polo, on Wednesday at 12 noon.

In the men’s final, Jaiaw will take on Lummawbah B, while Lawmali will face Nongthymmai in the women’s final.

Nine teams in both the boys and girls categories participated in the event, which is organised by the East Khasi Hills District Sports Officer George E Lyngdoh.

Mumbai: A listless Indian women’s team failed to click in all departments of the game as they were handed a five-wicket thumping defeat by Australia in their second warm up game ahead of the ICC World Cup here on Tuesday.

India could score just 222 for eight after opting to bat and the Australians chased down the target of 223 runs in 37.3 overs, despite losing a wicket in the first over.

The Indian batters were led by Harmanpreet Kaur in the absence of Mithali Raj and they started well. But soon after they began struggling and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. They lost half their side for the score of 116.

Raj had viral fever in the morning, which prompted her to take rest, but the team manager later said that she was fine.

From the Australian side, Sthalekar was the chief tormentor and picked up three wickets for 29 runs in her six overs. Schutt snapped up two wickets, while Sarah Coyte, Renee Chappell and Holly Ferling picked up a wicket each.

The Australians lost their opener Mag Lanning but soon recovered from the blow and won the match comfortably with 11.3 overs overs to spare.

The Indian team will undergo practice under lights for the first time on Wednesday, ahead of their first World Cup game against West Indies on Thursday, which is a day-night encounter.

Indian vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur said her side would bat first on the flat track against the Windies at Brabourne Stadium if they win the toss. (PTI)