A case of near misses

The latest defeat means that India has gone eight years and six major tournaments without winning a trophy.

If there’s something that can fittingly capture India’s fortunes in a game of cricket, it is often Virat Kohli’s face. With the denouement of his team’s Southampton operetta against New Zealand approaching, the Indian captain wiped his brow, bit his nails, and muttered something to himself, all while furiously shaking his head.

Seeing a ruthless competitor like Kohli on the losing end is a spectacle in itself: A display that invariably brings out how much winning means to him. It’s both glorious and painful to watch — a confirmation of the drive that makes him so great, but also a reminder