Former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell has blasted the New Zealand players for assisting Virat Kohli during his swashbuckling knock overnight.
Kohli guided India into the ODI World Cup Final with a record-breaking century as the home nation saluted by 70 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
During his 117 (off 113 balls) to bring up his 50th ODI ton - surpassing the great Sachin Tendulkar - Kohli was struggling with cramp.
But instead of using Kohli’s issues as a competitive advantage, the Blackcaps opted to assist the star batsman and help him on his way.
O’Donnell can’t believe in such a significant and important match, being a World Cup Semi-Final, that the opposition would be so thoughtful and helpful.
“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,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“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.”
Co-host Sam Edmund asked O’Donnell: “Do you think that made any difference to the result?”
O’Donnell replied: “Don’t care. Under no circumstances should you have gone within 20 metres of Virat Kohli when he had a cramp.”
Edmund added: “It’s hard to argue with you, really, as much as I’d like to play devil’s advocate.”
O’Donnell continued: “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 crap 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.”
Kohli’s innings would help India set a mammoth total of 4/397 with Shreyas Iyer crushing 105 (off 70 balls) and captain Rohit Sharma contributing 47 (off 29 balls).
Shubman Gill had retired hurt, also due to cramp, but did come back in the final over to finish not out on 80 (off 66 balls).
In response, New Zealand were dismissed for 327 despite Daryl Mitchell’s heroics in making 134 (off 119 balls) and skipper Kane Williamson piling on 69 (off 73 balls).
The undefeated Indians, who have qualified for Sunday’s Final of their home tournament, now await the winner of the South Africa v Australia Semi-Final which takes place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday night.
Catch every ball of Australia’s Cricket World Cup Semi-Final clash with South Africa live on SEN from 7pm AEDT tonight.
Gerard Whateley, Damien Fleming, Adam White, Bryce McGain and Bharat Sundaresan will be calling all the action, with a place in the World Cup Final against India on the line.
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