The IPL 2025 begins on March 22 with KKR taking on RCB in the first match in Kolkata.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli lavished rich praise on Mumbai Indians (MI) pacer Jasprit Bumrah and called him the 'toughest bowler he ever faced' he has faced in the IPL. These words came days before the IPL 2025 season is to commence on March 22.
Virat Kohli discussed facing Bumrah in the IPL and explained what makes him difficult to face as a batter. Kohli, who is presently training for the forthcoming competition, stated unequivocally that Bumrah is the best bowler in the world across all formats of the game.
Kohli also discussed the ferocity with which he faces Bumrah in the Team India nets and during an IPL match. The 36-year-old also stated that Bumrah has had a lot of success against him in the IPL and that facing him is enjoyable.
Kohli faced Bumrah in 16 innings where he scored 140 runs with a strike rate of 147.36 including 15 fours and five maximums. Bumrah has managed to dismiss Kohli five times out of their 16 meetings.
"No doubt about the fact that Jasprit (Bumrah) is the best bowler in the world across all the formats and he has got 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," said Kohli during RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit.
Kohli also discussed his upcoming match against Bumrah in the nets. The RCB batsman believes that Bumrah bowls with the same energy in the nets and is constantly seeking to get him out. He described facing him as both fun and the most difficult challenge.
"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 a mind game. 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.
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While Virat Kohli will be available for RCB from the first match of the franchise on March 22, Bumrah is most likely to be available for Mumbai Indians in April as he continues to rehab and get back into match fitness after reoccurrence of his back injury.