“Every ball is a mind game” - Virat Kohli reveals Jasprit Bumrah as the 'toughest bowler he ever faced' in IPL

Mumbai Indians (MI) pacer Jasprit Bumrah was praised by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli, who described him as the "toughest bowler he ever faced" in the IPL. These remarks were made just a few days before the March 22 start of the IPL 2025 season.

Virat Kohli talked about facing Bumrah in the IPL and described what it's like to be a batter against him. Bumrah is the world's top bowler in all game formats, according to Kohli, who is currently preparing for the upcoming tournament. 

Kohli also talked about how fiercely he opposes Bumrah in an IPL game and in the Team India nets. The 36-year-old added that it's fun to play against Bumrah because he's had a lot of success against him in the IPL.

“It’s like playing in a match”—Virat Kohli on facing Jasprit Bumrah in nets

When asked about the hardest bowler he has ever faced, Virat Kohli was addressing the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit. The great hitter named Jasprit Bumrah, a teammate from India, is the one who has caused him the most trouble.

Unafraid to mention Bumrah's name, Kohli declared him the world's greatest bowler in all formats. He described the contest as high-intensity and disclosed the times when they faced each other in the nets.

"No doubt about the fact that Jasprit (Bumrah) is the best bowler in the world across all the formats, and he has gotten me out a few times in the IPL. I've had success against him in the IPL. So, whenever I face him, it's like, okay, it's going to be fun because we don't get to do that in the nets,” Kohli said.

Kohli also discussed taking on Bumrah in the nets at the event. Bumrah bowls with the same ferocity in the nets, according to the RCB batter, who is always trying to get him out. He described meeting him as the most challenging and rewarding task.

"I mean, even in the nets, it's like playing a match. The intensity is like we play a match in the IPL. So, every ball is like I want to take him for runs, and he wants to get me out, and I try not to get out to him. So, you can sense it (that) he is at match intensity. Today, he is probably the marker that I keep when I play against him in the nets regularly. But I would say he is the most enjoyable and the toughest challenge," he added.

In the IPL, Virat Kohli has amassed 140 runs off 95 balls with an excellent strike rate of 147.36 and an average of 28 against Jasprit Bumrah. So far, Bumrah has removed Kohli five times. Bumrah's first IPL wicket was, surprisingly, Kohli.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!