Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis became a butt of jokes on social media after his bizarre statement about India talisman Virat Kohli following the latter's record hundred against South Africa in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

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On Sunday, Virat Kohli matched Sachin Tendulkar's world record of centuries in ODI cricket after he scored his 49th hundred against the Temba Bavuma-led side at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After Virat Kohli struck his historic ton in West Bengal, Kusal Mendis was informed about his feat during a press conference in Delhi.

At this stage, a reporter covering the media briefing asked Kusal Mendis if he would like to send his congratulatory wishes to Virat Kohli.

The question made Kusal Mendis uncomfortable, who gave a bizarre statement in response to the query.

“Why I would congratulate him?” Kusal Mendis said in reply.

Kusal Mendis is not the only cricketer to make controversial remarks about Virat Kohli.

Previously, former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez angered ex-India pacer Venkatesh Prasad after he called Virat Kohli “selfish” following his hundred against South Africa.

During the weekend, 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.

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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.

Meanwhile, Bollywood starlet Anushka Sharma paid the ultimate tribute to her husband Virat Kohli.

Following Virat Kohli's historic hundred, Anushka Sharma shared a picture of her husband where he is celebrating his record ton with the crowd at Eden Gardens.

“Apne birthday pe khud ko present (A present to yourself on your birthday) (100 emoji),” Anushka Sharma's caption under the picture read.

Anushka Sharma has been Virat Kohli's biggest cheerleader, with the movie star backing the legendary batter through thick and thin.

Last month, Anushka Sharma cheered Virat Kohli from the stands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the Indian Cricket Team beat Pakistan.

Rohit Sharma and his boys are currently on top of the table with 16 points, having won all eight matches in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

In their last league game, Team India will take on the Netherlands at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on November 12.