Michael Vaughan praised Virat Kohli for delivering an outstanding performance on a challenging batting pitch in Kolkata during Sunday’s match against South Africa.
Kohli got to his hundred off 119 balls and also won the Player of the Match after the Men in Blue hammered the Proteas by 243 runs at the venue in the City of Joy.
Kohli also became the third batter after Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma to score over 500 runs for the Indian men’s team in a single edition of the World Cup. Kohli also scored his second hundred in the ongoing mega event after he got to the three-figure score against Bangladesh on November 19 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune
Earlier, Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez criticised Virat Kohli for batting slowly and appearing to prioritise his personal milestones following India’s dominant 243-run victory over South Africa at the Eden Gardens.
Unique Birthday Celebration of Kohli
Virat Kohli marked his 35th birthday in a remarkable manner by achieving his 49th ODI century, which equals the record, helping India secure a commanding 243-run win over South Africa in the Cricket World Cup on Sunday. Kohli’s unbeaten 101, scored from 121 balls, allowed him to reach the same number of ODI centuries as his cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar, placing him on the all-time century list.
Hafeez called Kohli Selfish
Hafeez expressed his criticism, saying, “I saw sense of selfishness in Virat Kohli’s batting and this happened for the third time in this World Cup. In the 49th over, he was looking to take a single to reach his own hundred and he didn’t put the team first,” during a cricket show called ‘Top Cricket Analysis’.
Hafeez suggested that Virat Kohli should take a lesson from Rohit Sharma, who is willing to make sacrifices for the team.
“Rohit Sharma could have played selfish cricket too, but he didn’t because he is playing for Team India and not for himself,” he stated.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz voiced his disagreement with Hafeez, emphasising that clear roles have been assigned to each player in the team.
Hafeez clarified, “I am not saying Virat didn’t played well. He batted beautifully till he reached 97. The last three singles, he took, I am talking about the intent. He was looking for singles instead of hitting boundaries. Who cares if he gets out on 97 or 99. Team should always be above than personal milestone.”
Mohammad Hafeez. ‘I saw sense of selfishness in Virat Kohli’s batting and this happened for the third time in this World Cup. In the 49th over, he was looking to take a single to reach his own hundred and he didn’t put the team first’.#INDvsSA | #ViratKohli | #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/50VoKGXZhq
— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) November 6, 2023
Vaughan Slams Hafeez: Called This Utter Nonsense
Former England captain Michael Vaughan strongly criticised Mohammad Hafeez for labelling Virat Kohli as ‘selfish’ following Kohli’s century against South Africa on November 6 at Kolkata’s historic Eden Gardens. Vaughan dismissed Hafeez’s remarks as ‘complete nonsense’ and commended Kohli for his determined and responsible innings on a challenging batting pitch.
Come on @MHafeez22 !!! India have hammered 8 teams playing great cricket .. @imVkohli now has 49 tons and his last was an anchor role innings on a tricky pitch .. His team won by over 200 !!!! This is utter nonsense .. #CWC2023 #India #Pakistan https://t.co/Foh3hhz3RE
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 7, 2023
Vaughan expressed his views on a platform X and stated, “Come on @MHafeez22 !!! India have hammered 8 teams playing great cricket .. @imVkohli now has 49 tons and his last was an anchor role innings on a tricky pitch .. His team won by over 200 !!!! This is utter nonsense.. #CWC2023 #India #Pakistan.”
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