A new year brings new opportunities and hopes for die-hard sports fans across the globe, and as we open a new chapter in the sporting calendar, here are my five wishes that I would like to see fulfilled on the pitch in 2022.
▶ Virat Kohli to score a century for India
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23rd November 2019. That was the last time Virat Kohli passed three figures in international cricket. To put that date into context, Kohli’s last century for India came over a month before the first outbreak of novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China.
It’s not that Kohli has been particularly poor for the Men in Blue since his last ton. The Indian Test captain has had more 50+ scores than any Indian batter in all formats since 2020 (17) and has played some outstanding knocks in this period at Adelaide, Chennai and the Oval. However, compared to his lofty standards, Kohli has suffered a massive drop in form. The consistency of his run-scoring has declined significantly, and there have also been some reoccurrences of prior technical faults in his game – particularly around the outside off-stump line.
All cricket fans know that it is just a matter of time before a player of Kohli’s ability regains his mojo, but for the sake of one billion Indians, the hope is that century number 71 is not too far away.
▶ Ferrari to compete for the 2022 F1 World Title
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Having been brought up on a staple diet of Michael Schumacher dominance and the likes of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel competing for race wins in the red Ferrari, the last couple of seasons have been a difficult watch for fans of the prancing horse. Ferrari have been way off the pace compared to frontrunners Red Bull and Mercedes in the last two years, failing to win a single race and managing only two pole positions since 2019.
However, with the new regulations introduced in 2022, there is a renewed sense of optimism and hope for the Tifosi, with the reports of Ferrari making significant engine and chassis upgrades over the winter. It’s been 14 years since the red car won an F1 title and nearly a decade since they last competed for a championship, and my one wish for the new season is to see Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz competing regularly with Hamilton and Verstappen for the top step of the podium.
▶ England to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup
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No country has been through more collective footballing hurt and tragedy than England, with the Three Lions failing to win a single major title since the 1966 World Cup. England fans have witnessed Gazza’s tears, the rise and fall of the golden generation, and most recently, the heartbreak of the Euro 2020 final where three penalty misses saw Italy win the Championship at Wembley.
Nevertheless, in terms of talent and depth, there are arguably no nations in the world that can currently compete with England all across the pitch. The new generation of stars such as Foden, Saka, Bellingham, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Mount, among others, have already displayed their world-class ability at the elite level and have become invaluable for some of the best clubs in Europe.
Admittedly, there are some question marks over the manager Gareth Southgate, but given the team’s potential and recent tournament experience, there is no reason why this young English side can’t lift their first World Cup title in 66 years in Lusail at the back end of 2022.
▶ The Golden State Warriors win the 2022 NBA Championship
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There is just something special about watching the Golden State Warriors play basketball. The liquid offence and constant ball movement is reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona with Steph Curry – basketball’s equivalent to Lionel Messi – running the show on centre stage in the Bay Area.
The Golden State Warriors were the last true dynasty in the NBA – reaching the NBA finals in five consecutive seasons between 2015 and 2019 – and after two years of enforced hibernation, the Dubs are back with a vengeance to reclaim their throne. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball this season, combining the experience and skill of their veterans with the exuberance of their youth to make a championship team.
Steve Kerr’s side will face stern competition from the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, but if Steph Curry and co can add a fourth ring in eight years, they will rightfully be remembered as one of the greatest teams to have ever been assembled in NBA history.
Lastly, here are some quickfire wishes for the new year
● A team wins their maiden IPL title in 2022 (Looking at you RCB and DC)
● No more games behind closed doors, in any sport
● Rafael Nadal to reclaim his French Open title by beating Novak Djokovic in the final
● Emma Raducanu to follow up her US Open win with another Majors title (preferably at Wimbledon)
● India to finish second in the medal tally at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah