Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has called for the superstar culture in Indian cricket to come to and end as he was not happy with performance of senior Indian players in the recent 3-1 BGT 2024 series loss to Australia.
Notably, Kohli continued his poor form in the previous five-match Test series against Australia, scoring only 190 runs in five matches (9 innings) at an average of 23.75, with one hundred to his name.
Following his dismal performance, Irfan Pathan harshly criticized the top Indian batsman, noting his low average in the first innings. He also mentions Kohli's declining performances in the post-covid era, claiming that even a teenager can average 25-30 with consistent opportunities.
“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 its 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 amassed 2028 runs in 39 matches (69 innings) at an average of 30.72, including three hundreds and nine fifties. Since 2024, he has scored 440 runs in 11 matches (21 innings) at an average of 23.15 with one hundred and fifty. Since 2024, his first innings average has been 15.63, compared to 33.50 in the second innings.
Kohli's Test average has dropped from 54.97 in 2019 to 46.85 today, owing to his continued poor form. As a result, Kohli has experienced one of the worst slumps in Test cricket, and his status in the team has been called into doubt on numerous occasions.
