Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has sparked debate with his recent remarks about Virat Kohli’s batting during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Hafeez criticized Kohli’s approach in the match against South Africa, suggesting the Indian batter prioritized personal milestones over team interests.
Kohli was the standout performer of the tournament, amassing an impressive 765 runs and breaking the World Cup run-scoring record. His stellar performance included three centuries and six fifties, helping India maintain an unbeaten streak of 10 matches before their loss to Australia in the final.
However, Hafeez took issue with Kohli’s innings against South Africa, where he scored an unbeaten 101 off 121 balls. The ex-Pakistan skipper claimed Kohli showed “selfishness” by focusing on reaching his own century in the 49th over instead of accelerating for the team’s benefit.
This century was particularly significant as it equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds. Despite India posting a strong total of 326/5 and going on to win the match convincingly, Hafeez’s comments have reignited discussions about individual achievements versus team goals in cricket.
While Kohli’s World Cup performance was widely praised, Hafeez’s critique adds a new perspective to the conversation about cricket’s greatest modern batsmen and their approach to the game.