Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Virat Kohli’s bad streak continued in Melbourne as he failed to cross the fifty-run mark in both innings. The 36-year-old has not been in great form with the bat throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far.
Kohli has been heavily criticized for his poor performances and there have also been talks about his retirement. Recently, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has also joined the list and slammed Kohli for letting Indian cricket down.
Pathan spoke about Kohli’s poor form since the start of the season at home to India in September this year and claimed that a lot more is expected from a batsman of his potential.
Read also: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and this Superstar OUT of 2025 England series after BGT debacle
Irfan Pathan hits out at Virat Kohli’s poor form
During a discussion on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan reminded everyone of Virat Kohli’s numbers in the last five years in Test cricket. According to him, Indian cricket deserves much better than Kohli’s numbers in the last five years in Tests.
“Five years have passed. You are such a great player and your average in the last five years has been close to 28. Does Indian cricket deserve this? Does Indian cricket deserve an average of 28 from its best player? Absolutely not, they deserve better than this,” Pathan pointed out.
Pathan even claimed that even a young player will play better than Kohli at this point. Pathan added that Kohli should be ashamed of the poor numbers recently.
“He is averaging 21 since October 2024. Indian team does not deserve it. Even a young player will give you an average of 21. You expect more from Virat. If your average of career approaching 50, these are numbers to be ashamed of,” he added.
Irfan Pathan on Virat Kohli’s manner of dismissals
Irfan Pathan further noted a similar pattern of dismissals for Virat Kohli who is off stump. He questioned the star Indian batsman’s ability to play in serviceable conditions claiming that he is coming out in a similar fashion every time.
“If you look at his dismissals, all the balls were off the stumps. If you don’t hit them, the balls will go to the wicketkeeper, and the bowler will definitely do something else. Good bowlers increase the distance between two mistakes.” , Pathan said.
Virat Kohli has been tested consistently in the fourth and fifth stumps by the bowlers. His vulnerability is well known to bowlers around the world and he has found it difficult to counter these dismissals.
Virat Kohli Latest Numbers
In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Virat Kohli has scored 167 runs in four Tests at an average of 27.83. Apart from his hundred in Perth and 36 in Melbourne, he has looked totally out of form.
In the home Tests prior to this series, Kohli scored 192 runs in 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He has found it difficult with both pace and bowling, which has raised concerns about the rest of his career.
