Virat Kohli names the toughest bowler he has faced in his career

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has revealed the toughest bowler he has faced in his career, naming one of his teammates as the best in the world.

In a video shared by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Kohli praised his teammate, Jasprit Bumrah, saying, "There is no doubt that he is the best bowler in the world across all formats. He has dismissed me a few times in the IPL."

The 31-year-old fast bowler has established himself as a nightmare for opposition batters, and even Kohli is no exception.

Kohli first faced Bumrah during the 2013 edition of the IPL. Interestingly, Kohli became the fast bowler's first-ever wicket in the tournament during a match between RCB and Mumbai Indians.

Although Kohli does not play him frequently in net sessions, their real battles occur in the IPL when RCB takes on Mumbai Indians. Speaking about their intense contests, Kohli said, "We don't get to do this in the nets, but even there, it feels like we are playing an actual match. The intensity is the same as in an IPL game. We always think of every ball as a mental challenge."

Kohli has played against Bumrah 16 times in the IPL. While the RCB batter has scored 140 runs at a strike rate of 147.36 against him, he has also been dismissed five times.

Currently, the star pacer is recovering from a back injury that ruled him out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Mumbai Indians could feel his absence in the early matches of the IPL. He is expected to rejoin the five-time champions in early April, provided he receives clearance from the medical team at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

He suffered a back strain during the fifth Test match against Australia in Sydney and was initially advised five weeks of rest. This led to his exclusion from the Champions Trophy 2025. Earlier, he had undergone back surgery in March 2023.

The fast bowler's recovery will be crucial for India and Mumbai Indians, as he remains one of the most lethal pacers in world cricket today.