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Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez angered ex-India pacer Venkatesh Prasad after he called Virat Kohli “selfish” following his record-equaling hundred against South Africa in the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Sunday.
During the weekend at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Virat Kohli anchored the Indian innings, remaining unbeaten on 101 off 121 balls.
Experts commentating on the match agreed that the pitch was a tricky one to bat on as it was aiding South African spinners, who posed some problems for the home side's batters.
Though runs were hard to come by against South Africa's slow bowlers, especially against Keshav Maharaj, Virat Kohli managed to dig in and made sure India put up a good total on the scoreboard.
The Eden Gardens, packed to the raptures, was treated to a Virat Kohli masterclass as he powered the hosts to 326/5 in their allocated 50 overs.
Despite Virat Kohli's splendid knock, Mohammad Hafeez opined that the talismanic India batter put his milestone ahead of the team's cause and should have scored his runs much quicker than he did.
“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,” Mohammad Hafeez said on a Pakistani TV show.
Comparing Virat Kohli's knock with Rohit Sharma's, Mohammad Hafeez claimed that the latter played for the team as he gave them a blistering start.
Rohit Sharma made 40 off 24 balls as Team India raced to 62/1 in under six overs.
“Rohit Sharma could have played selfish cricket too, but he didn't because he is playing for Team India and not for himself. You have to give credit to Rohit Sharma. The way he is sacrificing his innings with right intent is commendable. The way he batted in the first six overs. He gave that sucker punch to South Africa. He knew pitch will get difficult and must attack when the ball is new and hard. Your captain can also play like you but his goal is bigger than his personal achievement. Rohit can also hit centuries,” Mohammad Hafeez explained.
“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,” the former Pakistan all-rounder added.
Mohammad Hafeez's comments earned him flak from former India coach Venkatesh Prasad, who slammed him for insulting Virat Kohli.
“Hearing funny arguments about Virat Kohli being Selfish and obsessed with personal milestone. Yes Kohli is selfish, selfish enough to follow the dream of a billion people, selfish enough to strive for excellence even after achieving so much, selfish enough to set new benchmarks, selfish enough to ensure his team wins. Yes, Kohli is selfish,” Venkatesh Prasad wrote on X.
Even Pakistani players showed their disagreement with Mohammad Hafeez over his bizarre comments on Virat Kohli.
“I disagree. The role is defined differently. Virat’s role is to take the game deep. In the last eight overs India scored 75 runs. Surya and Jadeja played fast but Kohli made sure that he is there at other end. if Kohli would have got out, we would have not seen those two cameos and India might not have crossed the 300-run mark,” retired Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz said.
“We talk about role identification. Rohit and Shubman are going all guns blazing up front. Then Virat plays the sheet anchor role, taking game deep. If Rohit and Shubman gets out early, Shreyas' will be the aggressor, Kohli and KL Rahul will bat through. It is very clear. yes Kohli batted slowly but if not for him, India would not have posted 326,” he mentioned.
Ex-Pakistan captain Rashid Latif agreed with Wahab Riaz's thoughts.
“His role is to stay there. No matter how many balls he is facing. You see the partnerships, he has played the second fiddle but that's his role. The others bats around him,” Rashid Latif said.
Before Virat Kohli landed in the city of joy, he was one behind his idol Sachin Tendulkar, who ended his illustrious career with 49 tons.
However, the 35-year-old looked determined to score a hundred in West Bengal after arriving at the crease after the fall of captain Rohit Sharma's wicket.
Rohit Sharma gave India a flying start, but once he perished, the pitch started playing tricks, with the spinners getting a lot of purchase out of it.
The Delhi-born cricketer bided his time, focusing on taking singles and doubles to keep the scorecard moving.
Eventually, Virat Kohli accelerated at the fag-end of the Indian essay, completing a memorable hundred on his 35th birthday.
With his heroics at the Eden Gardens, Virat Kohli joined Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli in a select list of Indian players who have made centuries on their birthdays in ODIs.
Notably, Sachin Tendulkar produced one of the best knocks of his career against Australia in Sharjah, known as the desert storm, on his birthday in 1998.
Overall, King Kohli is only the seventh cricketer to hit a hundred on his birthday across formats in international cricket.
Besides Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Vinod Kambli, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mitchell Marsh, Ross Taylor, and Tom Latham have scored centuries on their respective birthdays.
With his unbeaten hundred against Temba Bavuma and his men, Virat Kohli took his tally of tons in international cricket to 79. He has 29 centuries in Tests and one in T20Is.
It was his second hundred in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, having previously reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh.
Interestingly, Mohammad Hafeez is the first Pakistan cricketer to question Virat Kohli's batting approach.
Minutes after his hundred, several Pakistani cricketers, including Shahid Afridi, hailed the India superstar for his superhuman effort in West Bengal.
“This is the Best birthday gift from Virat Kohli to the fans of Team India & entire cricket fraternity. HBD,” Shahid Afridi tweeted.
“Congratulations Virat Kohli for such a great achievement. You've proved yourself a great batter of current times. This is an honor for you & Team India to level great Sachin's record. Also best birthday gift for yourself & your fans,” Pakistan great Mohammad Yousaf added.
“Gives the world a gift on his own birthday! Scripted to perfection! 100 no.49. Happy Birthday Virat Kohli,” former Pakistan women's team skipper Urooj Mumtaz Khan stated.
“Congratulations to Virat Kohli. He has proved once again that he is indeed the modern day great. He is on top of that ladder. The wicket at Eden was not easy to bat on,” former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said on A Sports.
“I always say that worlds are not enough to praise this fellow. No doubt he has equaled the record of the great Sachin Tendulkar. The interesting thing about Virat's hundreds are that most of them have come in a winning cause. That's what matters,” veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik stressed.
“Scoring 100 is a massive deal, but when you win the game and I think there is nothing beyond that. Another interesting part of Virat’s game is that he assess the conditions very well. Even if he gets out, it will look like only one batter was playing.”
“His physical fitness is next level, today he celebrated his 35th birthday but aisa lagta hai ki 25 saal ka bachha bhaag raha hai (looks like 25-year-old kid is running). Only physical fitness can help you to do what Virat does. He fields 50 over and then will bat long,” Shoaib Malik concluded.
