Mumbai Indians are set to receive a major boost as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah returns to the playing XI for their IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Bumrah, who was recovering from a back injury sustained during India’s final Border-Gavaskar Test in January, missed the Champions Trophy and the initial phase of IPL 2025. Now fully fit, the 31-year-old is ready to make his much-anticipated season debut.
The rivalry between Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most captivating matchups in modern cricket. Bumrah, a pace spearhead for Mumbai Indians (MI), and Kohli, a batting maestro for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), have faced off multiple times since Bumrah’s IPL debut in 2013.
According to detailed statistics, Jasprit Bumrah has bowled to Virat Kohli in T20 cricket, including the IPL, for a total of 95 balls as of the start of IPL 2025. While this figure encompasses all T20 encounters, the IPL forms the majority of their matchups, given their long tenures with MI and RCB, respectively. Here’s a breakdown:
- Matches: Bumrah and Kohli have faced off in 18 IPL matches from 2013 to 2024, as inferred from their team schedules and historical data. Assuming an average of 5-6 balls per encounter (typical for a bowler facing a batsman in T20s), the 95-ball figure aligns closely with IPL-specific encounters.
- Balls Bowled in IPL: Estimating from the T20 total, Bumrah has likely bowled around 80-85 balls to Kohli specifically in the IPL.
Frequency of Encounters
- Annual Matchups: MI and RCB typically play each other twice per IPL season (home and away), meaning Bumrah has had the opportunity to bowl to Kohli in at least 2 matches per year since 2013, barring injuries or scheduling anomalies.
- Overs per Match: Bumrah, as a frontline bowler, often bowls 3-4 overs per match, with 1-2 overs typically directed at top-order batsmen like Kohli. This translates to 6-12 balls per match, supporting the estimate of 80-85 balls over 18 matches.
Head-to-Head Record: Bumrah vs. Kohli in the IPL
Statistical Overview
Sporting News India provides a clear picture of their T20 record, which we can extrapolate to the IPL:
- Runs Scored by Kohli: Kohli has scored 140 runs off Bumrah’s 95 balls across all T20s, with the majority coming in the IPL.
- Strike Rate: Kohli’s strike rate against Bumrah is 147.4, indicating an aggressive approach despite Bumrah’s reputation as a death-over specialist.
- Dismissals: Bumrah has dismissed Kohli five times in T20s, all of which occurred in the IPL-Specific Dismissals
Bumrah’s five IPL dismissals of Kohli, starting from his debut in 2013:
- IPL 2013 (Bumrah’s Debut): In his first IPL match, Bumrah dismissed Kohli with a length ball that seamed back in, hitting the pads after Kohli had scored off his first two balls (both fours). This was a defining moment for the then-19-year-old Bumrah. 2-5.
- Subsequent Dismissals (2014-2024): The stats notes four additional dismissals over the years, though specific matches aren’t detailed. These likely include instances where Bumrah’s variations—yorkers, slower balls, or bouncers—outfoxed Kohli, often in high-pressure chases or early in RCB’s innings.
Key Moments
- 2013 Debut Encounter: As per stats, Kohli initially dominated Bumrah, hitting fours off his first, second, and fourth balls. However, Bumrah’s composure led to Kohli’s dismissal, a moment he later reflected on in a mid-match interview: “First match, a bit nervous, it happens!”
- Recent Clashes: In IPL 2024, Kohli scored 33 off 24 balls against Bumrah without being dismissed, showing his growing mastery over the bowler, per Cricmetric data.
Bumrah’s early encounters with Kohli were marked by inexperience, as seen in 2013 when Kohli took him for boundaries. However, Bumrah’s development into a world-class bowler—known for his unplayable yorkers, sharp bouncers, and slower-ball variations—has made him a formidable opponent.
By 2025, Bumrah’s return to MI after a brief injury layoff has bolstered the team’s bowling, setting the stage for another intense battle.
Kohli, one of the IPL’s highest run-scorers (7,263 runs as of IPL 2024), has adapted to Bumrah’s bowling over the years. His strike rate of 147.4 against Bumrah reflects a shift from caution to aggression, especially in recent seasons. However, Bumrah’s five dismissals indicate that the bowler still holds an edge in crucial moments.
Today’s anticipation for their IPL 2025 clash at Wankhede Stadium on April 6, 2025 marks another data of question – Will Bumrah take another wicket of Virat Kohli? With MI hosting RCB, fans are eager to see if Bumrah can add to his dismissal tally or if Kohli will dominate once again. The matchup is critical for MI, whose bowling unit has lacked experience without Bumrah, and for RCB, where Kohli’s form often dictates the team’s success.
