Indian national cricket team star Virat Kohli has hailed his teammate Jasprit Bumrah as the toughest bowler he has ever faced. Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit ahead of IPL 2025 Kohli praised Bumrah’s skill and intensity, acknowledging their competitive duels in the IPL as well as in practice sessions.

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Kohli and Bumrah have faced off only in IPL matches where the fast bowler has often had the upper hand. Bumrah has dismissed Kohli five times in the IPL, with the batter managing to score 140 runs off 95 balls at an average of 28 and a striking rate of 147.36. Despite Bumrah’s dominance Kohli has hit 15 boundaries and five sixes in their battles.

When asked about the toughest bowler he has ever encountered, Kohli was quick to name Bumrah calling him the best bowler in the world across all formats. "No doubt about the fact that Jasprit is the best bowler in the world across all formats, and he has got me out a few times in the IPL. I’ve had success against him, but every time I face him, it's like playing a match, even in the nets," Kohli stated.

Kohli also shared insights into their practice sessions, noting how Bumrah always brings match-level intensity. "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 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.