'So selfish': Kohli under fire over burning teammate in World Cup ...

Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav were involved in a calamitous moment as India flexed its muscle in a classy win over New Zealand on Monday morning.

Kohli struck a masterful 95 to help India to a four-wicket victory, a result that has the host nation on top of the World Cup standings, undefeated after five matches.

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Kohli just fell short of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 one-day international centuries — bit it was a moment of drama earlier in the run chase that got people talking.

Yadav was left stranded in the 34th over when he took off for a single after bunting the ball wide of Mitchell Santner at point.

Virat Kohli sold his teammate down the river. Photo: Fox Cricket.Source: Supplied

Both batsmen took off, but Kohli pulled up fiercely when spotting Santner’s quick reaction.

With Yadav committed to the run, Kohli scampered back into his crease at the non-striker’s end.

With Santner throwing the ball to the bowler’s end, Kohli had ample time to have run through, but his retreat meant Trent Boult was given all the time in the world to roll the ball down to keeper KL Rahul who whipped the bails off.

Kohli’s act has received plenty of criticism on social media, while others have claimed he made the right decision by sacrificing Yadav since he was the more dangerous, comfortable batter a the crease.

Other cricket commentators on social media described Kohli’s decision as “embarrassing” and

Yadav was sent back to the dressing rooms for two runs.

Kohli justified his decision by going on to score 40 more runs from that controversial incident. There was more drama to come from his innings after he’d turned down a single on the verge of his hundred.

It was a decision he regretted as he attempted to reach the milestone with a glory shot that brought him undone off the bowling of Matt Henry.

The in-form superstar, who hit 103 not out in the previous victory over Bangladesh, put on key partnerships including a 78-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who hit the winning four in his unbeaten 39.

Both teams shake hands following the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 match between India and New Zealand at HPCA Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Dharamsala, India. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

“He (Kohli) has done this for us so many years. He backed himself to do the job,” India captain Rohit Sharma said of his star batsman after the win.

“Kohli and Jadeja pulled us back when we lost a few wickets in the middle.”

Rohit (46) and Shubman Gill (26) provided a strong start in a stand of 71 before fast bowler Lockie Ferguson struck in his first two overs to remove the openers.

It wasn’t enough to stop Kohli from helping his team reach the total.

India, who lost to New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2019 edition, ended a 20-year wait for a win against the Kiwis in an ICC event after they last beat them in the 2003 World Cup.

The Kiwis, who rode on Daryl Mitchell’s 130 to post 273, suffered their first loss in five matches and are second behind leaders India in the 10-team table.

— with AFP