New Delhi. Demanding an end to the superstar culture in the Indian team, former fast bowler Irfan Pathan questioned Virat Kohli’s place in the team and said that he neither played domestic cricket nor worked hard to improve his technical shortcomings. Kohli and Rohit Sharma were in poor form throughout the series against Australia and India lost 1–3 and lost the chance to reach the World Test Championship final.
Pathan told Star Sports, “Superstar culture should end, team culture is needed.” You have to improve your performance, you and your team had matches before this series and they had a chance to play domestic cricket but they did not play. This culture has to be changed.
Team India Next Match: Team India will be seen on the field again after 17 days, with which team will it play the T20 match?
Irfan also said that Sachin Tendulkar also played Ranji Trophy when he did not need to because he wanted to spend four or five days on the pitch. Pathan said, “When did Virat Kohli last play domestic cricket? More than a decade ago. Virat Kohli’s average in the first innings in 2024 has been 15. Not even 30 in the last five years. Should such seniors be in the Indian team? Better than this, we should give a chance to some youth who will give an average of 25-30.”
Pathan said, “When we talk about Kohli, he has done a lot for India. Lots of good performances but getting out on the same mistakes again and again. You are not even trying to correct this technical mistake. Sunny sir (Gavaskar) is here. How much time does it take to talk to him or anyone else? Let us tell you that Kohli could score only 190 runs in nine innings and was repeatedly caught on the ball going outside the off stump.
Tags: India vs Australia, Irfan pathan, Virat Kohli
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 5, 2025, 4:57 PM IST