India captain Virat Kohli fell three runs short of a century but had the satisfaction of leading an India batting revival on the first day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
At stumps India were 307 for six after losing the toss.
A day of fluctuating fortunes ended when James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, struck with the new ball to have Hardik Pandya (18) caught by Jos Buttler at second slip.
That meant Anderson, who before this match had 60 Test wickets at Trent Bridge at just 18.95, had become only the second bowler after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan to take 100 Test wickets against India.
Earlier India, sent into bat at 2-0 down in a five-match series on a ground renowned for aiding swing, were in trouble at 82 for three come lunch.
Chris Woakes took all those wickets en route to figures of three for 75 in 20 overs.
But a fourth-wicket partnership of 159 between Kohli (97) and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (81), that spanned more than 40 overs, revived India.
Unfortunately for India, neither batsman reached three figures with Kohli — who made a brilliant first Test century in England in the series opener at Edgbaston — dismissed when he edged an intended drive off an Adil Rashid leg-break to Ben Stokes at slip.
Much of the pre-match attention had been focused on Stokes, recalled just days after his acquittal on Tuesday by a court on an affray charge that stemmed from a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September last year.
But until his catch to dismiss Kohli, it had been a frustrating day for Stokes, whose 15 wicketless overs cost 54 runs.
India were well-placed at 60 for none when Woakes took two wickets for one run in nine balls to remove both openers, with Shikhar Dhawan (35) caught at second slip before KL Rahul (23) was LBW.
And on the stroke of lunch, Cheteshwar Pujara hooked Woakes, man-of-the-match after scoring a maiden Test century in England’s innings and 159-run win in the second Test at Lord’s last week after replacing Stokes, straight to Rashid at long leg.
But Kohli, who on Friday had urged India “to stand up” was as good as his word, while showing no sign of the back trouble that hampered him at Lord’s as he and Rahane treated an engrossed crowd to a traditional top-order Test partnership.
It was a fitting way for India to honor former captain Ajit Wadekar, whose death aged 77 was announced on Wednesday, as were the black armbands they wore in memory of the first India skipper to enjoy a Test series victory in England, back in 1971.
After tea, Rahane had moved on to 57 when Anderson just failed to hold what would have been a spectacular catch at backward point following a flashing edge off Woakes.
Kohli was in superb touch, a gentle push off Woakes speeding down the ground for four.
Rahane eventually fell when he edged Stuart Broad, bowling on his Nottinghamshire home ground, and Alastair Cook at first slip held a brilliant left-handed catch off a chance that really belonged to motionless wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow.
Rashid, having not been required to bat or bowl at Lord’s, then had Kohli, to the star batsman’s evident fury, taken by Stokes to end a 152-ball innings including 12 fours.
But debutant wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant (22 not out), was undaunted, the left-handed batsman scoring his first Test runs in style when, to just his second ball, the 20-year-old left-hander went down the pitch to drive Rashid for six.
Virat Kohli falls short of century as India show guts at Trent Bridge
Virat Kohli falls short of century as India show guts at Trent Bridge
UAE golden boy Yahya Alghassani hoping to pay it forward for country’s young footballers
- The Shabab Al-Ahli forward spoke to Arab News about captaining his country at the Arab Cup, childhood inspirations, challenges ahead and helping young Emirati talent blossom
DUBAI: On Nov. 6 this year, Omar Abdulrahman, the golden boy of Emirati football during the 2010s, announced his retirement at the age of 34, to little fanfare.
It was a somewhat sad end for one of the UAE’s great talents, one whose last five years as professional were ruined by injuries.
It may have taken a few years for the Whites to have a new hero on the pitch, but in Yahya Alghassani, 27, the UAE finally have one of their own to take the national team forward.
The Shabab Al-Ahli star recently captained the UAE in two matches at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and is looking increasingly at ease as the face of Emirati football — on and off the pitch.
Alghassani has in recent years stepped up from being one of the UAE national team’s great hopes to being one of the senior players. With several nationalized foreign superstars vying for places in the squad, that is no mean feat.
Now he is paying it forward. In December, after the Arab Cup, Alghassani hosted a youth tournament to encourage more youngsters to take up a career in football, and indeed to find the country’s newest gem.
“When I was young we used to get a lot of opportunities to show off our talents,” he said at the launch of the Talent Cup at Dubai Police Club Stadium.
“But as the years went by, these opportunities decreased. The avenues to show off our talents decreased. Of course, there should be someone to help them show off (and) display their skills.”
“These kids need outlets for their energy, so instead of wasting it in the wrong places, they could release it via football,” Alghassani added.
“I know football, and I was raised in that environment, so I know what it means to them and what it means to get the same competitions to play in, to in the same way have someone discover their talents.
“All of what we’re doing is for the sake of the kids. In the end we need to give back everything to the society.”
For the more outstanding players present, Alghassani sees real opportunities to find a pathway into the professional game.
“In this competition, I insisted that there be scouts present, both from the local clubs and international ones, especial from the UK. Maybe in the summer they will have special trials for some of these best players, they will get opportunities to play there.”
“And the local coaches will be able to scout freely, I don’t interfere in these matters,” he said. “From my side, if I see a good player, a player who deserves to be in a local team, I will help him. All of us are here to help the local players.”
With the help of several entities, Alghassani’s work extends beyond the training pitch. “One of the things I like to be involved in is charity work.” he said.
“I now work with Al-Jalila Foundation, who provide me with a lot of support. I am also an ambassador for Dubai Sports Council, and I am proud to work with such government organizations.”
“There are companies like Red Bull and Whoop that support me personally, as well as Nike. They all help me and I in turn provide all my resources to help the kids so that they receive the highest level of training and get the best chance of being discovered.”
Alghassani remembers those who helped him become the player he is today. “I used to train at Al-Furjan before joining Al-Ahli (now Shabab Al-Ahli). I was 14 years old.
“To be honest, progress wasn’t easy, but there were a lot of opportunities to show your talent. Al-Furjan has somewhat disappeared now, so we are trying to bring it back. This is a positive thing for the community.”
He also credits his brothers for being an inspiration and regrets that they did not become professional footballers. “But I was lucky that God helped me to make it, so in the end I have to give back to the community. This is the most important thing for me.”
As Alghassani took his first steps in club football, his inspirations where two of the UAE’s most prominent members of the Golden Generation that blossomed under Emirati Mahdi Ali.
“Ali Mabkhout and Amoory (Omar Abdulrahman),” he said without hesitation.
“They were very passionate about their way of playing, their way of thinking, their way of being in the field. I was fortunate to play with them for a while, and I hope to play with them again. Especially Omar Abdulrahman.”
The former Al-Ain, Al-Jazira, Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Wasl superstar may have officially retired, but Alghassani believes there could still be one final twist in his tale.
“Amoory is one of the talents you can’t deny, he is a very positive person on the team, and he likes to help the players around him,” he said. “I don’t think he is retired completely.
“There could still be a return on the cards, and I think he will be back soon, God willing.”
After his youth team stint at Al-Ahli, Alghassani signed with Abu Dhabi’s Al-Wahda Club in 2018, before moving back in January 2021 to current club Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai, where his career overlapped with Abdulrahman’s. His international debut came a year later.
“You can’t describe the feeling of being in the national team,” Alghassani said. “Nothing else you do can compare to it, to represent your country and have all your people supporting you.
“I have been with the national team for a long time now. Honestly, the pressure is very high, it is not easy. But we have to embrace this pressure with pride because we are representing our nation.”
Alghassani is delighted to have the extra pressure of captaining the UAE national team. “If you are a professional football player and you don’t welcome the pressure with a smile, you won’t be able to continue.
“I always say that I have to welcome the stress and the pressure, because they are what keeps the player focused and calm at the same time.”
In the absence of goalkeeper Khalid Eissa, Alghassani assumed national captain duties for the Arab Cup matches against Algeria and Morocco. Emirati fans must have been proud to witness him give last-minute team talks as players went into a huddle seconds before kick-off.
“It is one of my duties,” he said.
“If I am the captain, I have to give these instructions. Of course these players have helped me a lot. They give me this platform to give them advice, and they accept my advice. We are all equal, there is no one leader on the pitch. We are all captains and everyone helps each other.”
After the UAE’s progress ended in the Arab Cup following a 1-0 loss to Morocco, the third-place play-off against Saudi Arabia was abandoned due to bad weather.
“We are thankful to God that we were awarded (joint) third place with the Saudi team,” Alghassani said.
“Honestly, I expected to do even better. It’s true no one expected us to reach this level, but personally I felt that we could reach a higher level. We have to see the Arab Cup as an experience. It will help us in the future.”
Despite not qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Alghassani is already looking to some major challenges ahead. “We will now focus on this championship (AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia),” he said.
“This is our sole focus now. Unfortunately, the World Cup is gone. It is a very important tournament for us, and I hope we will produce positive results.”
Alghassani has already scored in that competition — against Hong Kong in 2023. And if he needs any inspiration, he could cast his mind back to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the heroics his childhood heroes performed in Australia.
“I remember the penalty kick by Ismail Ahmed,” he said, recalling the winning spot-kick against Japan in a memorable semifinal in Sydney.
“His was the decisive penalty. I also remember Amoor’s ‘Panenka’ kick, I remember all of them. But when Ismail Ahmed scored I ran out of the house. I was happy. It was an indescribable feeling as a fan.”
A Panenka kick refers to a technique where the player chips the ball softly down the center of the goal, relying on the goalkeeper diving to one side, named after Czechoslovakia player Antonin Panenka who first used it to win the 1976 European Championship final.
After that 2015 Asian tournament, in which the UAE finished third, there was genuine interest in Abdulrahman and Mabkhout from European clubs, though a move never materialized for either.
Would Alghassani be willing to take that step? “Of course, I always welcome the idea of a professional career abroad,” he said confidently.
“It is always in my mind. I welcome any idea, but I have to respect my contract with Shabab Al-Ahli. If they need me, I will be there. And if they support a move abroad for me, I will go, why not. This is the dream of every professional player.”
