In the World Cup game against South Africa, Virat Kohli scored 101 runs off 121 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 83.47. Despite hitting 10 fours and no sixes, his performance had drawn criticism from Hafeez.
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Speaking recently on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, Hafeez commented, “I think I was right at that time if you see the whole context.To me, no matter who is playing. Your intention and way of playing should always aim toward winning the game. But if someone is hesitating to play big shots in his 90s, I won’t accept it. After 95, if someone takes five balls to get to his 100 and his intention changes after scoring 100, why can’t he play the same shots he did at 95 or 92 runs? For me, the intent should always remain the same—to add the best possible value to your team’s victory.”
“So, I felt Virat took too many balls to get to his hundred, and he wasn’t playing big shots. If you review his century again, maybe you’ll understand what I was saying. Personal milestones should be secondary to the team’s success. As a fan of cricket, I don’t appreciate 50s and 100s that aren’t for a winning cause. In cricket, even one run can make the biggest difference,” Hafeez added.
Currently, Kohli is preparing for the first Super 8s game against Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
His recent performances in the tournament have been disastrous, with scores of 1, 4, and 0 in consecutive matches, raising questions about his form.
With the tournament now shifting to the Caribbean from the USA, Kohli will be hoping for a change in fortune.