Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan revealed that he supported Virat Kohli during his first major slump in 2019-2020. Irfan Pathan emphasized that while Kohli deserved backing during his dip in form, it isn’t feasible to offer support indefinitely.
Kohli had been one of the most dominant batsmen in Test cricket between 2016 and 2019, scoring over 1,000 runs each year from 2016 to 2018 at an average above 50, and maintaining an average over 60 in 2019.
However, the former captain struggled at the start of 2020, going nearly three years without a Test century until 2022. Following a difficult outing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Down Under, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025.
Irfan Pathan: Big Players Deserve Backing During Their First Slump
Cricketer-turned-commentator Irfan Pathan believes that star players should receive support when they face their first dip in form. Speaking on The Lallantop show, Irfan Pathan revealed that he backed Virat Kohli during his batting slump in 2020. However, he stressed that support cannot last indefinitely.
“Virat Kohli had a slump in 2019-2020. You can check my social media from that period — I backed him a lot. I feel that when a big player faces his first slump, he should be supported,” Irfan Pathan said.
He added, “He deserves it because he has won many matches for the team. But if a slump lasts for five years, that’s not fair. Ultimately, the team comes first.”
Pathan also highlighted Kohli’s struggles against offside deliveries, which opponents exploited repeatedly.
“When a player keeps getting out in the same way, the opposition can rely on Plan A itself. A champion’s job is to take them from Plan A to Plan B,” Irfan Pathan explained.
“The issue with Virat in Test cricket was that he kept getting out in the same manner. This doesn’t make him a bad player — he is a great player. But what is happening also needs to be pointed out,” he added.
Kohli retired from T20Is last year but continues in ODIs. With 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, he is India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests. He is set to return for the ODI series against Australia in October.
