5 Bowlers Who Have Dismissed Virat Kohli the Most Times in IPL History

Image Source : AFP

Sandeep Sharma has the highest number of times he has dismissed Virat Kohli in the history of the IPL. The right-arm swing bowler has eliminated Kohli seven times, which makes their confrontation one of the most unexpected statistical rivalries of the tournament.

The advantage of Sandeep is that he is capable of swinging the ball at an early stage and also displaying disciplined lines in the powerplay. Kohli, who seems to like to dominate initially, has occasionally been disarmed by Sandeep whose minor movement and ingenious variations. Despite not being among the fastest bowlers, his control and tactical awareness have repeatedly allowed him to outfox one of the game’s greatest batters.

Also Read | Top 10 Most Expensive Overseas Players in IPL History

2. Ashish Nehra – 6 Dismissals

Image Source : BCCI

Second in the list is former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra who has dismissed Virat Kohli on six occasions in IPL matches.The angle of his left arm and the fact that Nehra could swing the ball early made Kohli have many issues in the initial years of the IPL.

The experienced seamer was fond of timely hitting, and had a habit of striking off Kohli whenever he was either getting into a new inning or trying to pick up the pace. Their encounters showcased Nehra’s tactical intelligence and experience, proving that skillful bowling can neutralize even the most technically sound batters.

3. Jasprit Bumrah – 5 Dismissals

Image Source : BCCI

Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Virat Kohli five times in IPL encounters, making their duel one of the most high-profile battles in the league. The unusual action, fatal yorkers, and the controlled stage, Bumrah is known to bowl on the hardest stages of a T20 game.

He has never been slow to attack Kohli with pace and accuracy, be it in the powerplay or during death overs. Their rivalry represents a battle between two of the contemporary Indian cricket superstars, one of them a high-end batter and the other possibly the best T20 fast bowler of his age.

4. Mohammed Shami – 5 Dismissals

Image Source : BCCI

Another bowler who has troubled Kohli multiple times is Mohammed Shami, who has dismissed him five times in IPL matches. The positive qualities that Shami has are his upright seam position and his capacity to create movement off pitch.

His violent bowling technique coupled with consistency in high speed, usually compels batters to err. Kohli has scored against Shami yet the pacer has the ability to break through hence their confrontation is fierce and uncertain. The rivalry highlights how top-quality seam bowling can challenge even the most consistent IPL batters.

5. Dhawal Kulkarni – 4 Dismissals

Image Source : BCCI

Dhawal Kulkarni completes the list with four dismissals of Virat Kohli in IPL history.Kulkarni was a disciplined seam bowler who used to hit tight lines outside the off stump in order to minimize the chances of scoring. He could swing the ball at the beginning of the innings and it worked in his favor against Kohli on a number of occasions.

While he may not have the pace of some modern fast bowlers, Kulkarni’s control and consistency helped him produce key breakthroughs against one of the most prolific batters in IPL history.

Also Read | 10 Greatest IPL Auction Steals Ever by MI, DC, PBKS, RCB & KKR

Conclusion 

The IPL has provided limitless exciting matches between the best batters and bowlers, and the fights of Virat Kohli are one of the most interesting. Though Kohli has controlled the tournament through his impressive consistency and run scoring power, there are a number of bowlers who have constantly succeeded in getting rid of him.

Sandeep Sharma tops the list with seven dismissals after him Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Dhawal Kulkarni. The bowlers are a variety of styles, swing, pace, precision, or tactical intelligence. These matchups highlight that even the greatest players face challenges, and in cricket, every duel between bat and ball creates a story worth remembering.