He Consumed a Lot of Deliveries to Reach His Century’ Mohammad Hafeez, the former Pakistan skipper, didn’t hold back as he discussed one of Virat Kohli’s centuries during the ODI World Cup last year. Virat Kohli emerged as India’s top batsman in the previous year’s ODI World Cup, surpassing the run-scoring record in the fifty-over ICC event. Kohli accumulated an impressive 765 runs throughout the tournament, hitting three centuries and six half-centuries, delivering a masterclass in batting prowess.
Kohli’s performances were pivotal in ensuring India enjoyed a 10-match unbeaten streak in the competition; however, the team suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final against Australia, who secured a commanding six-wicket victory in Ahmedabad.
Despite the outcome, the tournament is widely remembered for Kohli’s record-breaking achievements. However, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has recently ignited controversy by revisiting one of Kohli’s innings from the edition against South Africa.
In that match, Kohli remained unbeaten on 101 off 121 balls, as India posted a total of 326/5; subsequently, the bowlers delivered a devastating performance, dismissing the Proteas for just 83 runs.
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“I felt Virat took too many balls to reach his century, and he wasn’t playing aggressive shots. If you analyze his hundred again, perhaps you’ll understand my point. Personal achievements should be secondary to the team’s success. As a cricket enthusiast, I don’t appreciate fifties and hundreds that don’t contribute to a winning cause. In cricket, even a single run can make a significant difference,” Hafeez remarked.
Meanwhile, Kohli has been struggling with form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, having scored a mere five runs in three innings so far. Opening the innings for the first time in a T20 World Cup, Kohli has posted scores of 1 (4), 4 (3), and 0 (1) in the three matches. Consequently, the right-handed batsman will be eager to find form as India begins their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan on Thursday, June 20, in Barbados.
Kohli’s efforts last year highlighted his capability to anchor the innings and accumulate runs, yet Hafeez’s criticism brings to light the balance between personal milestones and team objectives in cricket.
The discussion around Kohli’s approach in that innings against South Africa underscores a broader debate in cricketing circles about the prioritization of personal records versus contributing to the team’s overall success.
This ongoing discourse reflects the complexity and multifaceted nature of cricket as a sport, where individual brilliance must align with collective triumph for a team to succeed.