“Virat Kohli’s Century Controversy: Selfish or Selfless?”

^{Virat Kohli is batting selfishly while Rohit Sharma is selfless, claims Mohammed Hafeez | Sporting News India}

In a Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa, Virat Kohli’s impressive 121-ball 101 earned both applause and criticism. While many celebrated his performance, former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez accused Kohli of displaying a ‘selfish’ approach. Hafeez, working as a pundit for a Pakistani TV channel, pointed out an instance in the 49th over where Kohli was seemingly focused on reaching his personal century instead of prioritizing the team’s interests. In contrast, Hafeez praised India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, for consistently playing for the team’s benefit and making selfless contributions.

Hafeez emphasized that Rohit’s approach demonstrated a commitment to the team’s goals, even when personal achievements were within reach. He acknowledged that Kohli’s batting was commendable but suggested that he should have shown more intent to score quickly, rather than taking singles to reach his century. Hafeez believed that the team’s success should always take precedence over individual milestones.

In response to Hafeez’s criticism, former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad defended Kohli, praising him for his dedication and determination to excel and lead the team to victory. Prasad’s retort reinforced the idea that Kohli’s ‘selfishness’ was directed towards the greater dream of a billion people and setting new benchmarks for excellence in the sport.