Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli disclosed the toughest bowlers he has encountered in all three formats. The veteran batter is currently the top run scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Kohli was asked to list the most difficult bowlers he had encountered in each format during an event. He selected Sunil Narine for T20s, James Anderson for Tests in England, and Adil Rashid for ODIs.
“(The toughest bowler I’ve faced) In ODIs, it would be Adil Rashid, in Test cricket, it would be James Anderson in England, and in T20s, it would be Sunil Narine,” Kohli said at the RCB innovation lab.
Toughest Bowlers Virat Kohli Faced In His Career
Adil Rashid has been one of the most difficult bowlers Virat Kohli has encountered in ODIs. In 161 games, the English leg-spinner has taken 242 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls and ten four-wicket hauls. In ten ODI innings, Kohli has faced Rashid; the spinner has dismissed him five times, underscoring their difficult duel.
James Anderson was named by Kohli in Test cricket, particularly in English conditions. Considered one of the best fast bowlers in history, Anderson has claimed 704 wickets in 188 Test matches. During the 36 Test innings between the two legends, Anderson removed Kohli seven times. But Kohli, who scored at a remarkable average of 43.57, also had success against the legendary seamer.
named Sunil Narine for . Narine has claimed an amazing 626 wickets in 594 T20 matches total, including 52 in T20Is. Kohli was dismissed four times in 22 T20 innings against Narine. With 9,230 Test runs, 14,797 ODI runs, 4,188 T20I runs, and a record 9,203 IPL runs, Kohli continues to be one of cricket’s greatest batters despite these difficulties.
The run machine will be in action in the IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, on May 22. Both teams have already advanced to the playoffs but will be eyeing to seal a better spot in the final four.