Mitchell Starc has faced almost every big name in world cricket, but the Australian fast bowler has now revealed the batsman who has pushed him to the limit during his long career. And the name at the top is none other than Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli.
The 35-year-old fast bowler is still one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the world. He has continued to bowl match-winning spells for Australia and recently produced the best bowling performance of his career in the opening Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26.
Mitchell Starc praised Virat Kohli fiercely
Even after playing international cricket for more than a decade, Starc’s hunger and pace have not diminished. Over the years, he has bowled to world-class players like Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and many other modern greats. But in his individual list, none of them came close to the challenge that Virat Kohli posed to him.
Also Read: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh compete for No. 3 spot in India Test XI; Sarfaraz Khan kicked out
Kohli and Starc have been part of some of the most intense battles on the 22-yard line. They have faced each other across all formats in India vs Australia, where each ball feels like its own story. Their rivalry has been thrilling since their early days.
Mitchell Starc called Virat Kohli the strongest batsman of his career
At every stage, Kohli has managed to push Starc harder than anyone else. They have shared the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dressing room in the IPL and during that time, the Australian star got a chance to know the Indian batting icon closely, which made their relationship interesting.
Not just Kohli, Starc also shared the RCB dressing room with South African legend AB de Villiers. He also played with and against Steve Smith. Despite getting a chance to face many world-class batsmen, Kohli still stands out in his mind. Even in peak form, the Australian fast bowler has admitted that Kohli is the batsman who gave him the most trouble.
“Virat Kohli is the No. 1 batsman I have played against. The way he dominates the game, it was amazing to build that relationship with him during my time at RCB,” Mitchell Starc said on Kookaburra Cricket. When asked to choose the best player with whom he played, Starc said, “Kohli, Steve Smith and AB de Villiers.”
Also read: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli begin practice in Ranchi to erase India’s Test shy in ODI against South Africa
mitchell starc vs virat kohli stats
Meanwhile, Starc and Kohli have shared one of the most exciting rivalries in cricket. Their battles are all about skill, with bat and ball clashes resulting in some of the most memorable moments of the game. In the Test, Kohli faced 477 balls and scored 278 runs at an average of 46.3, while Starc dismissed him six times.
In ODI cricket, the Australian fast bowler has scored 162 runs against Starc at an excellent average of 81. In T-20, Kohli remained unbeaten after scoring 15 runs against Starc. Furthermore, the right-handed batsman has scored 91 runs without losing his wicket against Starc in nine T20Is.
The Australian fast bowler took 36 wickets in 26 matches at an average of 20.38 and economy rate of 7.17.
