Today’s IPL 2025 match (No. 46) features Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on April 28, starting 7:30 PM IST.
One of the most exciting player battles in this game will be between Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batters in T20 cricket, and Mitchell Starc, one of the fastest and most dangerous left-arm pacers in the world.
Let’s break down how Kohli has performed against Starc in the IPL and overall T20 format.
Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc – IPL Head-to-Head
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs | 59 |
| Innings (Inns) | 4 |
| Fours (4s) | 6 |
| Sixes (6s) | 3 |
| Batting SR (Bat SR) | 190.32 |
| Balls Faced (BF) | 31 |
| Strike Rate (SR) | 11.41 |
| Wickets (Wkt) | 0 |
| Batting Average (Ave) | – |
| Extras (Ex) | 5 |
✅ Summary: Kohli has faced Starc in the IPL twice and scored 59 runs in just 31 balls without getting out even once. His strike rate of over 195 shows total dominance.
Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc – T20s Overall (All Competitions)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Wickets (Wkt) | 0 |
| Innings (Inns) | 9 |
| 4s | 11 |
| 6s | 4 |
| Bat SR | 172.54 |
| Runs | 88 |
| Balls Faced (BF) | 51 |
| Strike Rate (SR) | 10.35 |
Insight: Across all T20s (including IPL, internationals, and other leagues), Kohli has scored 88 runs off 51 balls against Starc and has never been dismissed by him.
See Also:- Player of the Series in IPL All Time
Expert Analysis – Who’s Winning the Battle?
- Kohli is clearly in control in this head-to-head. His ability to play pace, especially from left-arm quicks, is well-known.
- Starc usually troubles batters with swing and yorkers, but Kohli has handled him confidently, finding boundaries regularly.
- With 0 dismissals in 9 T20 innings, this is a rare bowler vs batter match-up where the batter dominates completely.
What to Expect in Today’s Game?
- Mitchell Starc will likely bowl in the powerplay, and Kohli will open the innings.
- If Kohli continues his clean record, he might go after Starc early to put pressure on DC.
- However, Starc could surprise with new variations, and this clash will be a key moment in the match.
In the Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc battle, the numbers say it all — Kohli is unbeaten and scoring at over 172.54 SR in T20s and 210+ in IPL against Starc.
With the home crowd behind him at Chinnaswamy and his form this season, this could once again be Kohli’s moment to shine in front of one of the best bowlers in the game.
