The cricket community is celebrating Virat Kohli's historic 50th ODI century, but former Australian fast bowler Simon O'Donnell has criticised New Zealand's sportsmanship for aiding the batting maestro when he suffered from cramps during the ODI World Cup semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Kohli, at 35, was hit with cramps during his innings of 117 off 113 balls that steered India to 397 runs which they successfully defended to reach the World Cup final. Some of the New Zealand players extended assistance to the star Indian batter as he grappled with cramps, a gesture that O'Donnell found problematic.
Expressing his concerns on Sen Radio, O'Donnell questioned the decision to assist Kohli, especially when India was on course for a formidable total of 400 runs in a crucial World Cup semifinal.
"Why would you go and help Virat Kohli when he had a cramp? When they're heading for 400. In a World Cup semifinal. 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."
While O'Donnell acknowledged that this assistance might not have altered the match outcome, he maintained that Kiwi players should have refrained from approaching Kohli when he was experiencing cramps.
"Don't care. Under no circumstances should you have gone within 20 meters of Virat Kohli when he had a cramp. He (Virat) 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 crap out of us?' India opener Shubman Gill had retired hurt due to cramps when on 79 and Kohli too was seen struggling during the later part of his 149-minute stay at the crease.
"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 semifinal? Give me a spell," ranted the former Australian pacer.
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