Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez recently called Virat Kohli ‘selfish’ for chasing his 49th ODI century, however, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan has hit back at those claims. Vaughan called Hafeez’s comments ‘utter nonsense’ pointing to the fact that the Indian team won their game against South Africa by 234 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma-led Indian team had already secured qualification into the semifinals ahead of their top-of-the-table clash against South Africa. Kohli was on the cusp of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most hundreds in ODIs, and the 35-year-old marked his birthday with a special unbeaten knock of 101 runs.
Riding on Virat’s century and 77-run knock from Shreyas Iyer, India scored 326/5 before restricting the Proteas to a mere total of 83 runs in reply.
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Despite the easy win, Hafeez claimed that he saw a sense of selfishness in Kohli’s knock as he didn’t put the ‘team first’ in the Pakistan cricketer’s opinion.
“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 was quoted as saying.
Vaughan meanwhile fired back at the Pakistan star, saying that India have ‘hammered’ 8 teams in the World Cup.
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“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,” wrote Vaughan on social media platform X.
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
Earlier, ex-Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad had also hit back at Hafeez without naming him on social media, saying that Virat is right to be ‘selfish’ to chase excellence.
“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,” wrote Prasad on X.
Virat is second on the leading run scorers’ list for the ODI World Cup behind Quinton de Kock and will next be seen in action on November 12 against the Netherlands in India’s final group game.
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