Virat Kohli is a huge fan of Jasprit Bumrah, calling him the toughest bowler he’s ever faced. He thinks Bumrah, the 31-year-old speedster from Ahmedabad who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, is the best in the world, no matter the game format. Virat Kohli even mentioned that Bumrah has gotten him out a few times in the IPL.
Even when we practice in the nets, it feels like a real match, Kohli said. The energy is intense. I’m trying to score, and he’s trying to get me out. I’m doing my best not to get out. You can feel that we’re both at match level intensity. He’s the benchmark I use when I face him in the nets. It’s the most enjoyable and hardest challenge.
Bumrah started his IPL with Mumbai Indians on April 4, 2013, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He took three wickets for 32 runs in four overs.
"𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚, '𝙊𝙠𝙖𝙮, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙣.'" 🗣
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 17, 2025
Ever wondered who’s the toughest bowler Virat’s ever faced? 🤔 Catch him spill the tea, at the 𝗥𝗖𝗕 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁… pic.twitter.com/36F8d8twN6
Kohli hit him for boundaries on the first, second, and fourth balls of the first over. But on the fifth ball, Bumrah, who was just 19 then, got Kohli out, trapping him in front of the wickets for his first dismissal.
So far, Bumrah has 165 wickets in 133 IPL matches. He’s one of only three players to win five IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians.
There’s no question that Jasprit is the best bowler worldwide in all formats, Kohli said in a video shared by RCB’s social media. He’s gotten me out a few times in the IPL, and I’ve also had some success against him. So, whenever I face him, I know it’s going to be fun because we don’t usually get to do that in the nets.
