Published By: Sayan Guha

BGT 2024/25: Who’s Got Virat’s Number? The Bowlers Who Owned King Kohli in a Test Series

Credit: TV9 Hindi

When the GOAT met his match: Stories of brilliance, swing, and spin

Cricket is more about rivalries than it is about records. While Virat Kohli has cemented his place in the annals of batting prowess, there are instances when the bowler’s cunning outshines the batter’s tenacity. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, for example, is now underway. With 190 runs at an average of 23.75, Kohli appears a shell of his imperious self.

However, this is hardly new ground for the Indian stalwart. Let us look back at three remarkable Test series in which bowlers delivered masterclasses to frequently remove Kohli, turning the tables on one of the game’s greatest players.

James Anderson: The swing maestro’s symphony (England, 2014)

In 2014, Kohli’s nightmares were tormented by one name: James Anderson. The English bowler, with his impeccable swing control, became a terror for the Indian batter. Anderson’s strategy was simple yet devastating: entice Kohli into playing deliveries right outside off-stump, where his innate urge to drive proved fatal.

Consider the dismissal at Lord’s during the second Test. Anderson slanted the ball in, inviting Kohli to defend, only for it to seam away late and hit the edge. Alastair Cook, standing at the slip, scarcely had to budge. Then there came the peach at Old Trafford—a conventional outswinger that Kohli couldn’t miss. The edge sailed to Ian Bell at second slip, leaving Kohli in shock.

Anderson dismissed Kohli four times in five matches. Each dismissal was a masterclass in seam and swing, and Kohli’s series average of 13.40 demonstrated how thoroughly Anderson had him beat.

Todd Murphy: The rookie who spun a web (India, 2023)

Todd Murphy, an unknown off-spinner from Australia, entered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023. By the end of it, he was the talk of the town, thanks to his dominance over Virat Kohli. Murphy dismissed Kohli four times during the series, proving that even a novice can unsettle the best.

One of the most notable dismissals occurred in Nagpur. Murphy sent the ball wide outside leg-stump, a reasonably simple delivery. While attempting to glance it fine, Kohli barely managed a slight advantage over Alex Carey. It was a mild rejection, but it established the tone. Later in Delhi, Murphy pulled Kohli in with a loopy delivery that drifted and spun just enough to defeat his bat. Carey removed the bails, leaving Kohli astounded.

Even in Ahmedabad, where Kohli hit an incredible 186, Murphy got the final laugh, luring the batter into a slog-sweep that found the fielder in the deep. Kohli’s series average of 49.50 obscured the crucial occasions in which Murphy struck gold.

Scott Boland: The silent assassin (Australia, 2024-25)

In the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Scott Boland has emerged as Kohli’s primary adversary. The Australian seamer does not rely on fast speed or excessive swing. Instead, his strengths are accuracy and perseverance, showing Kohli’s proclivity to pursue pitches outside off.

Boland set up Kohli at the MCG with a probing line and length that forced him to defend. Then came the sucker punch—a good-length ball that nibbled away just enough to hit the boundary. Alex Carey dived to his right to finish the catch. It was classic Boland: unwavering and effective.

In Sydney, Kohli fell into a similar trap. A somewhat back-of-length delivery, ascending slightly more than planned, elicited an uncertain poke. The edge went to Steven Smith at slip, and Kohli walked away, looking irritated. Boland has taken Kohli’s wicket four times in five matches, showing his mastery of the seam bowling technique.