New Delhi, March 18: Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will present unique challenges for Virat Kohli. Kohli has retired from Test and T20 formats, now only participating in One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India.
Pathan noted that despite Kohli’s impressive performance in ODIs, transitioning back to T20s after a break will be a different challenge for the charismatic batsman.
On his YouTube channel, Pathan stated, “This time, things will be a bit different for Kohli. For the first time, he will play in the IPL after completely retiring from Test cricket. He is only playing one format, which is not easy for anyone. However, he has scored runs and performed exceptionally well. Even after a break, he finds it difficult in ODI cricket.”
He added, “In T20, when you play aggressively and come back without many matches, it becomes challenging. But he has faced many challenges before. I am very excited to see how he progresses this season.”
Pathan believes that Kohli’s ability to maintain a high strike rate throughout his innings was a significant factor behind RCB’s title win in 2025.
He remarked, “Virat Kohli and RCB are an identity that goes hand in hand. He started with RCB and is still playing for them. His performance has been outstanding. During his captaincy, he had a golden phase with many remarkable performances. When he led the team to victory last season, his strike rate increased. He did not play the role of an anchor but rather that of an aggressive player. This was a major factor. This time, they will hope he maintains that form.”
In his IPL career, Kohli has played 267 matches, scoring 8,661 runs at an average of 39.54, including a record 8 centuries. He played a crucial role in RCB’s title win in IPL 2025, amassing 657 runs at an impressive average of 54.75, with 8 half-centuries. The seasoned batsman aims to continue this form for his franchise.
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