![Tanveer Ahmed on Virat Kohli's century vs NZ. [Source - AFP/@drivexpull/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768814431380_TanveerAhmedcallsoutViratKohliescapingBabar-likecriticismaftercenturyonlosingcause.jpg?type=hq)
Tanveer Ahmed on Virat Kohli's century vs NZ. [Source - AFP/@drivexpull/x]
Former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed drew attention after criticising Virat Kohli for failing to win the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore. Virat Kohli scored a valiant century in a losing cause, but Tanveer Ahmed questioned its impact as India failed to win the game.
New Zealand stunned India by clinching their first-ever ODI series on Indian soil despite missing several key players, including Kane Williamson and captain Mitchell Santner. After losing the series opener in Vadodara, they bounced back strongly to win back-to-back matches and seal the series 2-1.
In the Indore decider, New Zealand posted 337 after being put on to bat first, powered by centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. India collapsed early, but Kohli’s fighting 54th ODI century, well supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, sparked hope before the chase ultimately fell short.
Tanveer Ahmed takes a dig at Virat Kohli for not finishing the game for India
While the cricketing world lauded Kohli’s lone battle and praised the fight he showed under pressure, former Pakistan pacer Tanveer saw it differently. He took to his Twitter (now X) handle to question the impact of Kohli’s knock in India’s defeat.
“Hahaha, New Zealand won the series. Virat Kohli scored 124 runs off 108 balls at 114 strike-rate. He should have won the match,” Tanveer tweeted.
Though the tweet did not directly criticise Kohli, the message was clear. By highlighting the strike rate, Tanveer Ahmed indirectly suggested that Kohli batted too slowly, implying his century came at the cost of India failing to get over the line.
Tanveer compares Kohli’s century with Babar Azam’s criticised knocks
Tanveer Ahmed’s remarks also carried a broader message aimed at Pakistani cricket circles. He pointed out how Pakistani YouTubers often openly criticise Babar Azam for playing slow, impactless innings, questioning his intent and strike-rate.
“Today, none of the Pakistani YouTubers will say that Virat Kohli played for himself. They are afraid that if they say something like that, Indians will get angry, and then they won't be able to earn dollars,” Tanveer added.
Through this statement, Ahmed indirectly compared Kohli’s fighting century with Babar Azam’s often questioned innings. He highlighted a perceived double standard, suggesting that what is labelled “selfish” when Babar does it is celebrated as grit and fight when it comes from Kohli, driven largely by Indian audience’s views and revenue.
Tanveer's claim of Kohli avoiding Babar-like criticism is comical
Judging Virat Kohli for one rare failure is comical, especially coming from Tanveer Ahmed. Kohli has consistently carried India in run chases, scoring a record 29 ODI centuries while chasing, proving time and again that he delivers when it truly matters.
In winning chases, he has 24 centuries at an astonishing 90.28 average and the Indore ODI marked only the fifth time, and first since 2019, he could not win it for India despite a century, making Tanveer’s remark feel entirely baseless and exaggerated compared to Kohli’s long-standing record of leading India to victory.
