Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell has taken issue with New Zealand’s sportsmanship towards Virat Kohli in their semi-final loss at the Cricket World Cup.
India claimed a 70-run win to book their place in the final and move one step closer to lifting the trophy for the third time.
Batting first, the hosts piled on a total of 397 and while New Zealand batted well in reply, they could only manage 327 in the run chase and fell short.
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Long seen as the nice guys of international cricket, New Zealand also have a reputation for always being the bridesmaid and falling agonisingly short of glory at World Cups.
They lost in the final at the last two ODI World Cups, including on boundary countback in 2019, and also suffered defeated in the 2021 T20 World Cup final.
The Kiwis were once again gracious in defeat and O’Donnell believes they acted too sportingly towards Kohli during his innings.
The Indian superstar was battling cramp as he approached his recordbreaking 50th century that saw him pass Sachin Tendulkar as the player with the most ODI hundreds.
As he hobbled around the crease, several New Zealand players checked on Kohli’s welfare.
“I had a problem a couple of times last night. Virat Kohli gets cramp, they’re heading for 400 and blokes go over and help him,” O’Donnell said on SEN on Thursday.
“Why would you go and help Virat Kohli when he had a cramp? When they’re heading for 400. In a World Cup semi-final.
“Spirit of the game is playing within the laws. Virat Kohli is tearing your country apart and you want to go over and give him a hand.”
O’Donnell, who played six Tests and 87 ODIs for Australia, was especially bothered by the Kiwis approaching Kohli and picking up his bat for him.
“Under no circumstances should you have gone within 20 metres of Virat Kohli when he had a cramp,” he said.
“He threw his bat away and one of the Kiwis went and picked it up. ‘Go and pick your own bat up while you’ve got a sore hamstring and a cramp. Stop hitting us for sixes and fours’.
“That’s not a big deal. That’s not outside the spirit of the game. It’s being competitive and saying, ‘OK, he’s being physically challenged, why are we assisting him to stay physically OK to belt the cr*p out of us?’
“I don’t get it, I just don’t get it. Stuff helping him out, he’s made 50 one-day hundreds, why help him make the 50th against you in a World Cup semi-final? Give me a spell.”
Several New Zealand players congratulated Kohli on his century after he was eventually dismissed and captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to his rival after the loss.
Williamson hailed record-breaking Kohli as “the best” batsman in the world and warned India’s rivals that the superstar is “getting better.”
“That’s something quite special, I think if you play 50 games, some people would call that a great career,” said Williamson.
“But to get 50 hundreds … and not just that, actually the way he goes about it, it’s actually about winning games for his team.”
The 33-year-old added: “I mean he’s the best, isn’t he? And he seems to be getting better, which is a worry for the opposition all around the world.” Shami struck throughout the innings on his way to returning the best figures by any bowler in a World Cup semi-final and, importantly ended a threatening third-wicket stand of 181 between Daryl Mitchell (134) and Williamson (69) when the Black Caps skipper was caught at deep square leg.
“That blue machine keeps rolling and they were too good for us today … They thoroughly deserve their win,” said Williamson.
“He’s a phenomenal player and just the ultimate competitor, he loves the occasion, and he’s been outstanding for us throughout this whole tournament,” said Williamson.
India, unbeaten in 10 games at the tournament, will now face either Australia or South Africa in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.
“They’re the best team in the world and they’re all playing their best cricket,” said Williamson.
“The way they’ve played throughout this tournament has been incredible. They haven’t missed a beat … I’ve got no doubt they’ll go into that next match full of confidence.”
— With AFP
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