(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, who served as the captain of his team for the majority of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 matches, recently addressed a controversial moment. Mendis had declined to congratulate India’s Virat Kohli after he achieved his 49th ODI hundred during a press conference.
The incident occurred after Kohli equaled the record of former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries in a World Cup 2023 match against South Africa last Sunday.
Mendis, during a pre-match press conference ahead of Sri Lanka’s clash with Bangladesh, was asked by a reporter to share his thoughts on Kohli’s remarkable feat. In response, Mendis stated, “Why would I congratulate him?”
After returning to Sri Lanka following their elimination from the tournament, Mendis expressed regret over his response, acknowledging that he was unaware of Kohli reaching his 49th ODI century during the interview.
“On that day I went for the press conference and I was not aware that Virat had scored a century, When suddenly that journalist asked that question, I didn’t know what to say, And also I didn’t understand the question clearly. Scoring 49 ODI tons is not an easy job to do, Virat is one of the brilliant cricketers in the world, later I realized what I said was absolutely wrong. I now feel I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did,” Mendis said as quoted by Sri Lanka’s Asian Mirror.