'He's concerned about his personal milestone'- Simon Doull blasts Virat Kohli for selfish play during RCB vs LSG IPL 2023 match

Simon Doull Virat Kohli (Image source: Twitter)

In the IPL 2023 match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants, Virat Kohli put up a strong performance in front of the home crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull was critical of Kohli's gameplan, stating that he was more concerned with his personal milestones than the team's success.

Kohli, who is known for his love affair with the Chinnaswamy track, smashed three maximums and four boundaries, scoring his 46th IPL fifty in the process. However, Doull pointed out that while Kohli went all guns blazing in the powerplay, he slowed down after reaching his personal milestone, taking 10 balls to score the next eight runs. Doull stated that there was no room for individual milestones in the game and that Kohli should have kept going, especially with wickets in hand.

"Virat Kohli started off like a train. He was hammering shots. But from 42 to 50 he took 10 balls. He's concerned about his personal milestone. I don't think there's room for that in this game anymore. You've just got to keep going, especially with wickets in hand at that stage. You've got to keep going, " he said.

This is not the first time Doull has been critical of a top batsman's approach to the game. Last month, during the 2023 Pakistan Super League tournament, he had lashed out at Babar Azam for prioritising his century over the team's success. Doull had stated that while hundreds are brilliant and stats are great, the team's success should come first.

LSG came up with a thrilling win

In the RCB vs LSG match, Nicholas Pooran smashed the fastest fifty of the IPL season in just 15 balls, helping the Lucknow Super Giants pull off a stunning chase of 213 runs. The match went down to the wire, with Lucknow needing five off the last six balls and number 11 Avesh Khan scoring a bye off the last ball to seal the win.

While individual milestones are important in cricket, the team's success should always come first. Kohli and Babar are both top-class batsmen who have achieved a lot in the game, but it is important to remember that cricket is a team sport. Doull's comments serve as a reminder to players to keep the team's success in mind while chasing personal milestones. In the end, it is the team's success that truly matters.