Mitchell Starc Names Virat Kohli the Toughest Batter He Has Ever Bowled To
Starc says Virat Kohli is the toughest batter he has faced, praising their India Australia rivalry and Kohli’s consistency.
Mitchell Starc has called Virat Kohli the toughest batter he has faced in his long international career. The Australian left arm quick said Kohli has pushed him more than any other opponent across formats.
Starc, now 35, said he has bowled to many world class players over the years. He mentioned Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, AB de Villiers, and Steve Smith. Still, he feels none have tested him like Kohli. He added that Kohli’s ability to control games and raise his level in big moments makes him stand out.
Their rivalry has grown through many India and Australia matches. It also includes time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Starc said this mix of fierce battles and shared dressing rooms shaped strong respect between them.
On the Kookaburra Cricket platform, Starc was asked to name the best batter he has played against. He said, “Virat Kohli is the No. 1 batter I’ve played against. The way he dominates the game, it was amazing to have that relationship with him during RCB.” He was also asked to pick the best players he has played with. He named “Kohli, Steve Smith, and AB de Villiers.”
The Numbers Behind the Rivalry
Kohli has enjoyed good success against Starc in Tests. He has scored 278 runs off 477 balls at an average of 46.3. Starc has dismissed him six times, which shows how well both players compete.
In ODIs, Kohli has 162 runs against Starc at an average of 81. In T20Is he has 15 unbeaten runs. Across nine T20 games overall, he has 91 runs without being dismissed by Starc. These numbers show how tough Kohli is to remove in the shorter formats.
Starc’s own figures mentioned in the interview include 36 wickets in 26 matches at an average of 20.38 and an economy of 7.17. These remind fans that he remains one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket.
