IND vs SA Highlights: Virat Kohli, the Indian batting superstar, displayed his prowess for Team India during the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 against South Africa in Kolkata on November 5 (Sunday). In a high-stakes encounter, the former Indian captain, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, notched up his 49th ODI century, equaling the world record for the most ODI hundreds previously held by Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli faced 121 deliveries to amass 101 runs, which included 10 boundaries. Playing on a challenging pitch, he achieved this milestone with a strike rate of 83.47, displaying a cautious approach to reaching his second century in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
However, Kohli's strategy faced criticism from some fans and experts who accused him of playing selfishly and prioritising personal achievements. Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez was one of those vocal critics. Responding to the controversy around Kohli's slow-paced innings, former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad posted a tweet on his official handle of X (formerly Twitter) to offer a resounding response to Kohli's critics.
In his now-viral post, Prasad acknowledged that Kohli is indeed selfish. However, he emphasised that Kohli's selfishness is channelled toward pursuing the dreams of a billion people, establishing new standards of excellence, and ensuring his team's victory.
Prasad's tweet reads, "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. Yes, Kohli is selfish."
On Sunday, Kohli emerged as the highest run-scorer for India against South Africa. Thanks to his gritty 101-run innings, India posted a total of 326 runs on the scoreboard and subsequently bowled out the South African team for a mere 83 runs in 27.1 overs, winning the match by a convincing margin of 243 runs and ensuring that India remain on top of the tournament’s points table.