Two of the modern white-ball greats, Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc, will clash in the 24th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season as Delhi Capitals (DC) travel away from home to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Given their prowess, you’d think their battle would be neck-and-neck but that’s far from the truth.
Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc stats
The IPL 2025 season is just the fourth time Starc is playing in the league. And since he played for RCB in 2014 and 2015, he didn’t go against Kohli. Last year, when he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, it was the first time he bowled at the star batter, and it didn’t go that well for the left-arm pacer.
IPL record
| Span | Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 40 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 210.52 | – |
The IPL 2025 season is just the fourth time Starc is playing in the league. And since he played for RCB in 2014 and 2015, he didn’t go against Kohli. Last year, when he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, it was the first time he bowled at the star batter, and it didn’t go that well for the left-arm pacer.
T20I record
| Span | Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 – 2024 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | – | 83.33 |
Test cricket might be the only place where Starc actually competes with Kohli. He’s gotten him out 6 times with the red ball. But the number four batter still averages nearly fifty against him. Given how well Kohli has played in Australia, the matchup doesn’t favour the left-arm pacer at his home.
Test record
| Span | Innings | Runs | Outs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 – 2025 | 26 | 278 | 6 | 46.33 |
In Kohli’s best format, Starc doesn’t even come close. He’s dismissed him just once. And mind you, the pacer is considered one of the greatest ever bowlers in ODI cricket. Yet, he’s struggled. It just shows how good Kohli has been in 50-over cricket.
ODI record
| Span | Innings | Runs | Outs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 – 2023 | 13 | 156 | 1 | 156 | 100.64 |
