NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Kohli’s transition to playing fewer formats could affect his T20 pace, especially after breaks.“This time, things will be a little different for Kohli. For the first time, he will play the IPL having completely retired from Test cricket. He plays only one format. It’s not easy for anyone,” Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“But he has scored and his performance has been brilliant. Even coming after a break, it hasn’t been difficult for him in one-day cricket.”Virat Kohli joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026, but this season might be a little different for him. Now that Kohli has retired from Test cricket and only plays in limited-over formats, expectations are high, but experts believe the move could bring new challenges in T20 cricket.“In T20S, when you play as the aggressor and come in without having played much, it will be a challenge. But he has also faced a lot of challenges before. I am very excited to see how he will progress this season,” he added.Pathan also highlighted how Kohli’s change in batting style last season played an important role in RCB’s success. Instead of anchoring the innings, Kohli took on a more attacking role, which helped the team win the title.“Virat Kohli and RCB are an identity that goes hand in hand. He started with RCB and still plays for them. He has given brilliant performances. It was also a golden period in his career when he captained the team; there were many brilliant performances,” he said.“When they won last season, his goal percentage also increased. He did not play as an anchor, but rather took on the role of aggressor. It was a very important factor. This time too they will expect him to maintain the same form.”
