(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former England captain Michael Vaughan recently responded to comments made by ex-Pakistan player Mohammad Hafeez regarding Virat Kohli. Hafeez had called Kohli’s 101-run innings against South Africa in the 2023 World Cup ‘selfish.’
After Kohli played a century knock against the Proteas in the 37th match of the ongoing World Cup in Kolkata, Hafeez characterized his performance as ‘selfish,’ insinuating that the Indian cricket icon deliberately played at a slower pace to achieve his personal milestone.
“I saw a 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. Rohit Sharma could have played selfish cricket too, but he didn’t because he is playing for Team India and not for himself,” Hafeez said as quoted on a Pakistani news channel.
This opinion caught the attention of former Vaughan, who criticized and responded to Hafeez on X, calling his statement ‘utter nonsense.’
“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,” Vaughan wrote on X.
The Player of the Match for the South Africa clash, Kohli, scored 101 runs off 121 balls which helped Men in Blue post 326 runs on the board. During the chase, South African batters faltered and crumbled like a set of toppled ninepins against the formidable Indian bowling attack. This resounding victory for India also secured their position at the pinnacle of the table.
The Men in Blue have qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing tournament. But before that, they have a league fixture left versus the Netherlands, scheduled on November 12 in Bengaluru.