Virat Kohli doesn't deserve place in Indian team: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan blasts Virat Kohli after poor show in BGT. (Photo: AP)

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels it is time for the Indian cricket team management to take some harsh calls. The ex-cricketer turned commentator suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir and selectors should back a youngster in place of star batter Virat Kohli, who's been struggling to perform. India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 and Kohli's performance has raised many fingers. He could only score 190 runs in 9 innings which makes his average of 23.75 in the five-match series.

Following Kohli's continued struggles, Pathan criticized the star batter, drawing attention to his poor first-innings average. Pathan also highlighted Kohli’s declining numbers in the post-COVID era, remarking that even a young player could average between 25-30 if given regular opportunities.

Also Read - Sandpaper drama in Sydney: Virat Kohli sends cruel reminder, fingers pointed at Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin joins chatter

"In 2024, in the first innings where the game is set up, Virat Kohli averages just 15. If we take out his numbers in the last five years, he doesn’t even average 30. Is this what the Indian team deserves from his senior player? Instead of him, you give regular chances to a youngster, give him time to get prepared, even he can average 25-30. Because we are discussing about the team here not the individuals," said Pathan on Star Sports.

"India don't need superstar culture, they need team culture. Tell me the last time when Virat Kohli played domestic cricket when he was free? When was the last time it happened? It has almost been a decade. Since then even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar played it and has retired altogether. He didn’t have to play, but even he came to play," he added.

Time to shift the spotlight! #IrfanPathan calls for an end to the superstar culture, emphasizing the importance of building a strong team-first mentality in Indian cricket#AUSvINDOnStar #ToughestRivalry #WTC #WorldTestChampionship pic.twitter.com/YQ6TKJUXe4
Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 5, 2025

Kohli's bad form since 2020

Virat Kohli has endured a prolonged slump in Test cricket since 2020. Over 39 matches (69 innings), he has scored 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with three centuries and nine fifties. The dip has been more pronounced since 2024, where in 11 matches (21 innings), he has managed just 440 runs at an average of 23.15, including one century and one fifty. His first-innings average during this period has plummeted to 15.63, significantly lower than his second-innings average of 33.50.

This prolonged lean patch has had a notable impact on Kohli's overall Test average, which has fallen from 54.97 in 2019 to 46.85. The once-dominant batsman is now navigating one of the most challenging phases of his career, with increasing scrutiny over his place in the side. As India gears up for the England tour, questions loom over how long Kohli will be backed by the management or whether tough decisions will be made about his Test future.