Mitchell Starc has faced almost every big name in world cricket, but the Australian speedster has now revealed the one batter who pushed him to his limits throughout his long career. And the name at the top is none other than Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli.
The 35-year-old pacer is still one of the most threatening fast bowlers in the world. He continues to produce match-winning spells for Australia and recently delivered the best bowling performance of his career in the opening Test of the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes.
Mitchell Starc praises Virat Kohli
Even with more than a decade of international cricket behind him, Starc’s hunger and pace have not disappeared. Over the years, he has played in front of world-class players like Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and many other modern-day greats. But in his personal list, none of them managed to rise to the challenge presented to him by Virat Kohli.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Also Read: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh battle for third spot in India’s Test XI; Sarfaraz Khan sent off
Kohli and Starc participated in some of the most intense battles on the 22-yard line. They faced each other in India-Australia clashes across formats, where each ball felt like a story of its own. Their rivalry has been exciting since their beginnings.
Mitchell Starc names Virat Kohli as the toughest batter of his career
In every phase, Kohli managed to push Starc harder than anyone else. They shared the dressing room for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, and during that time, the Australian star got to know the Indian batting icon closely, which made their relationship interesting.
Not only Kohli, Starc also shared the RCB dressing room with South African legend AB de Villiers. He also played with and against Steve Smith. Even though he got the chance to face many world-class batters, Kohli still stands out in his mind. Even at the peak of his form, the Australian fast bowler admitted that Kohli was the batter who pushed him the most.
Mitchell Starc said on Kookaburra Cricket: “Virat Kohli is the No. 1 batter I have played against. The way he dominates the game, it was amazing to have that relationship with him during RCB.” When asked to choose the best player he played with, Starc replied: “Kohli, Steve Smith and AB de Villiers.”
Also Read: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli begin training in Ranchi to erase Indian Test shame with ODI redemption against SA
Mitchell Starc vs Virat Kohli Stats
During this time, Starc and Kohli shared one of the most exciting rivalries in cricket. Their fights are all about skill, with bat and ball battles in some of the sport’s most memorable moments. In Tests, Kohli faced 477 deliveries and scored 278 runs at an average of 46.3, while Starc dismissed him six times.
In ODI cricket, the Australian fast bowler scored 162 runs at an impressive average of 81 against Starc. In T20Is, Kohli is unbeaten against Starc, scoring 15 runs. Moreover, the right-handed batter scored 91 runs without losing a wicket against Starc in nine T20s.
The Australian fast bowler has scalped 36 wickets in 26 matches at an average of 20.38 and an economy rate of 7.17.
