The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
From debut to latest 5-for, Bumrah has got the better of Kohli in IPL
FOR VARIOUS reasons, Virat Kohli will remain an integral part of the Jasprit Bumrah story. In the format he loves the most – Test cricket – he made his debut under Kohli's captaincy in South Africa. And he thrived in the format under Kohli's aggressive, bowlerprioritised leadership.
But even before that, Bumrah made his first major impact in top-level cricket when he bowled to – and dismissed – Kohli back in IPL 2013. In fact, Bumrah has dismissed Kohli five times.
It hasn't all been one-way traffic, Kohli has had his moments against Bumrah. In 16 face-offs between the duo in IPL, Kohli has scored 140 runs off 95 balls at a strike rate of 147.36. Off those 95 deliveries, he has hit 15 fours and five 6s.
But as Bumrah showed at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, he does trouble Kohli quite a bit, mostly with the length ball that nips back in.
Here's a look at how their battles in the IPL have panned out.
RCB v MI, 2013: Kohli 24 (13) lbw b Bumrah (Bengaluru)
The first meeting between the two modern-day superstars came on Bumrah's IPL debut. Kohli had the initial upper hand. Bumrah's first ball went for four, as did the second and fourth. In a mid-match interview filled with one-line matter-of-fact answers, he'd say with a shrug of his shoulders: “First match, a bit nervous, it happens!” And so he bowled a length ball that seamed back in and thudded into Kohli's pads. The umpire's finger went up and Bumrah – whose relaxed celebrations now have become a trademark – roared in delight with flailing arms. A star had arrived.
RCB v MI, 2019: Kohli 46 (32) c Hardik b Bumrah (Bengaluru)
It would be six years before Bumrah got Kohli again. And it would be a game-turning dismissal at the Chinnaswamy. Kohli was guiding RCB in the run-chase when he was dealt a nasty bouncer. The ball was around shoulder height for Kohli, who was hurried by the pace and ended up top-edging a pull to Hardik Pandya. Bumrah would go on to finish with a three-wicket haul in a match that is now infamously remembered for a non no-ball call against Lasith Malinga.
RCB v MI, 2020: Kohli 9 (14) c Tiwary b Bumrah (Abu Dhabi)
Bumrah's 100th IPL wicket would be the same man as his first. It was yet another bouncer that angled back into Kohli, it didn't quite bounce to shoulder-height but once against hurried Kohli, as it had done in Bengaluru the previous year. And the top edge was found, taken by Saurabh Tiwary at midwicket. Bumrah would finish with sensational figures of 3/14 on a night that is now also remembered for Kohli's staredown at Suryakumar Yadav and the latter's 'calma' celebration after winning the match for MI.
MI v RCB, 2021: Kohli 33 (29) lbw b Bumrah (Chennai)
Much like the first dismissal, Kohli was done in by a length ball this time at Chepauk. The ball nipped back in once again, and Kohli missed one of his bread-and-butter shots: the tuck behind square leg. He shuffled across and the ball thudded into his pads. Kohli didn't even bother reviewing and walked back.
MI v RCB, 2024: Kohli 3 (9) c Kishan b Bumrah (Mumbai)
Their most recent meeting would belong completely to Bumrah. Kohli came into the match in fine form, having hit a record-extending eighth IPL century. At Wankhede, he once again held the key for RCB'S batting but Bumrah struck gold with his third ball of the night. On the previous delivery, Kohli was struck on the pads in a play that was reminiscent of that 2013 moment, but the ball was sliding down leg this time. Bumrah shortened the length next ball, and the angle he generates once again was the undoing of Kohli. It wasn't quite a bouncer, but the ball kissed the under-edge of Kohli's bat. A fifth dismissal of Kohli on a night Bumrah would go on to register a sensational five-for.