In the 15th match of IPL season 16, Virat Kohli slammed his 46th half-century in the Indian Premier League on Monday against the Lucknow Super Giants. The former RCB captain reached the 50-run mark in 35 balls, registering his second fifty of the season.
However, it took Kohli 10 balls to move from 42 to 50 and his batting approach did not go down well with former New Zealand player Simon Doull, who was commentating on the match. Doull felt that Kohli was “concerned about the milestone”.
Kohli started like a train. He was going hammer and tongs as he was playing a lot of shots. From 42 to 50, he took 10 balls. Concerned about a milestone.
I don’t think there’s room for that in this game anymore. Just gotta keep going, especially with wickets in hand at that stage. You got to keep going.”
Doull had said on air.
Responding to Doull’s comment, ex-Pakistan captain Salman Butt raged at the former New Zealand pacer, and considered his statement as “utter rubbish”.
Former Pakistani captain said on his Youtube Channel, when he was in Pakistan, he used similar words for Babar Azam. If he had watched the game consciously, he would’ve noticed that Kohli tried to hit Bishnoi three or four times but he missed. That is part of the game. He has 75 centuries in international cricket. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. It’s utter rubbish. He (Doull) has played cricket, but he was a bowler.
Butt suggested Doull “get a life” as a player like Kohli, who has scored 75 international centuries, doesn’t need to worry about milestones.
Young players often play like this as getting to milestone might secure their place in the team. Why would Kohli do that? This is RCB we are talking about. He is not fighting for his place in the Indian team. He is a world class player.
Get a life. Get out of this narrow-minded thinking. All the big players like Babar, Virat and Williamson are not power-hitters. They put value on their wicket. Maybe he’s trying to get attention.”
Salman Butt added
