Former India cricketer-turned commentator Irfan Pathan feels it’s about time that the Indian team management started backing a youngster in place of Virat Kohli. Notably, Kohli continued his poor form in the recent five-match Test series against Australia, accumulating just 190 runs from five matches (9 innings) at an average of 23.75 with one hundred to his name.
Following his poor show, Irfan Pathan heavily criticised the star India batter highlighting his poor average in the first innings. He also goes on to mention Kohli’s depleting numbers in the post-covid era and said that even a youngster can average between 25-30 with regular chances.
“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.
Since 2020, Kohli has scored 2028 runs from 39 matches (69 innings) at an average of 30.72 with three hundreds and nine fifties. Since 2024, he’s accumulated 440 runs from 11 matches (21 innings) at an average of 23.15 with one hundred and one fifty. His first innings average since 2024 is 15.63 compared to 33.50 in the second innings.
