Virat Kohli is considered a modern-day legend, and his batting is a template as why he is arguably the best in the business. 'King Kohli' - a moniker that is fondly associated with the talismanic batter - is called a run-machine, especially when it comes to constructing big chase and in the process we often see the right-handed batter smash records for fun.
Despite enjoying the supremacy, Kohli also has his discomforts and is not shy from admitting them. In an event in Bengaluru, the ex- India and RCB captain revealed the three hardest bowlers, format wise, he has ever faced in his fruitful career.
Kohli named James Anderson as the most dangerous bowler he has ever faced in Test, adding facing the veteran, who retired from the sport last year, in England's difficult circumstances was one of the hardest battles he had ever fought in red-ball cricket.
Kohli identified Lasith Malinga, former Sri Lanka speedster and current bowling coach of Mumbai Indians, as the most challenging to face in One Day Internationals. Additionally, Adil Rashid, the English leg-spinner, was another name Kohli frequently faced difficulties against in the fifty-over format.
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Speaking about Twenty20 cricket, Kohli praised Sunil Narine, the star spinner for the Kolkata Knight Riders, calling him the hardest bowler he has ever faced in the shortest format.
Virat Kohli Talking About Thoughest Bowler He Faced Across Formats!...#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ebfcDH043avirat_kohli_18_club (@KohliSensation) May 3, 2025
What does the numbers suggest
Kohli and Anderson's rivalry in Tests is a captivating one and data show that the English bowler has had the batter's number seven times in 36 innings. Kohli, on the other hand, has amassed 305 runs in the same.
Meanwhile, Malinga has only managed to remove Kohli twice in ODIs and the batter has managed 225 runs off 218 balls against the yorker specialist. In fact, Kohli's 24-run hammering in a single over by Malinga during the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Hobart remains one of the classic battles between the two icons. Adil Rashid, on the other hand, has enjoyed more success against Kohli, dismissing him five times in ODIs from ten innings.
Regarding the fast-paced world of Twenty20 cricket, Narine has dismissed him four times in 21 innings.
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