Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Virat Kohli deserved support during his initial slump in form, considering his past contributions, but backing him during a later dip came at the cost of the team

Kohli ruled the roost between 2016 and 2019, scoring 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, including 16 hundreds and 10 half-centuries. During this period, he also established himself as one of India’s finest Test captains.

However, the star batter hit a lean patch in the years that followed. Between 2020 and 2022, Kohli failed to score a Test century while he managed to struck only three tons between 2023 until his retirement earlier this year.

"Virat Kohli had a slump in 2019-2020. You can see my social media of that time — I backed Kohli a lot," Pathan told The Lallantop. "I feel that when a big player faces his first slump, he should be backed. He deserves it too, because he won many matches for the team. But if this slump lasts for five years, then it is not right. In the end, the team is the most important."

Virat Kohli’s Test future had come under severe scrutiny after his flop show in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. He began the marquee series with a second innings hundred (100*) at Perth, but managed to amass only 90 runs in his other eight innings combined as the Australian pacers exploited his weakness outside the off-stump.

Kohli’s constant struggles in whites in the last few years saw his career average dropping below 50.

Pathan also stressed that Kohli’s repeated dismissals outside the off-stump should have been addressed more thoroughly.

"When a player gets out in the same way, the opposing team will get you out with Plan A itself. They will not need to go to Plan B. It is the job of a champion player to take you from Plan A to Plan B," Pathan explained.

"The problem with Virat Kohli in Test cricket was that he was getting out in the same manner continuously. This does not mean that he is a bad player. He is a great player. But what is happening is also true. We have to tell what is happening, with details," he further remarked.

Virat Kohli finished his Test career with 9230 runs from 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with the highest score of 254.