Michael Vaughan stands up for Virat Kohli in response to Md Hafeez’s accusations about Kohli’s batting approach

In India's recent World Cup 2023 match against the Proteas at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on November 5, India celebrated an emphatic 243-run victory over South Africa, largely due to a stellar performance by Virat Kohli. The star batter played a gritty knock of 101 not out in 121 balls on a sluggish surface, propelling the hosts to a massive total of 326/5 in 50 overs.

However, this performance sparked controversy when former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez criticized Kohli’s batting approach, accusing him of playing for his milestone rather than the team’s success. "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,” Hafeez commented on PTV Sports.

Vaughan defends Kohli’s century, calls Hafeez’s comments ‘Utter Nonsense"

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan came to Kohli’s defence, calling Hafeez’s comment as ‘utter nonsense’. He praised Kohli for playing a responsible knock on a difficult track.

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

Hafeez once again took a dig at Kohli while praising Ben Stokes’ century during the England versus Netherlands match in Pune. Stokes slammed 108 off 84 balls, propelling the defending champions to 339/9 in 50 overs. Hafeez tweeted, “Saviour of the ship @benstokes38 Good 100 under pressure anchoring the innings where required with aggressive intent to get Maximum runs for the team to win at the end. Sheer example to differentiate Selfish vs Selfless approach,” and tagged Vaughan in his post.

In response, Vaughan once again reminded Hafeez that the Kolkata pitch was tough to bat on and South Africa had a superior bowling attack than the Netherlands. “Great innings from Stokesy @MHafeez22… As was Virats on a difficult pitch in Kolkata against a better attack,” Vaughan wrote.

Great innings from Stokesy @MHafeez22 .. As was Virats on a difficult pitch in Kolkata against a better attack .. 👍 https://t.co/KFpNIafgVK

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 8, 2023

Despite the controversy, Kohli’s prowess in this World Cup is undeniable. He has amassed 543 runs from eight innings at a remarkable average of 108.60 and a strike rate of 88.29, including two hundred and four half-centuries.