Virat Kohli is arguably the greatest batsman in the IPL history. The former RCB captain is the leading run-scorer in the history of the tournament with 6903 runs in 230 IPL matches.
Kohli averages 36 in his IPL career and has notched up 5 centuries and 48 half-centuries. Only Chris Gayle has hit more hundreds than Virat and only Dhawan and Warner have hit more half-centuries.
So, it’s nothing short of an aspiration for any bowler to dismiss Virat , even in his worst form. And to get the big fish out for a duck is a dream, for it also provides an early upper hand for the bowling team over RCB.
Here are 5 famous instances of bowlers dismissing Virat Kohli for a golden duck in the IPL:
Trent Boult
The latest name on this list of bowlers to dismiss Kohli for a duck is Trent Boult. The left-arm Kiwi pacer brought back the ghosts of the 2019 World Cup semi-final when, bowling for Rajasthan Royals in Indian Premier League 2023, Boult got rid of the RCB opener with an inswinging delivery. Kohli missed his flick shot, the ball beat the inside-edge and rapped Kohli on his pad. The umpire was quick to raise his finger and Kohli didn’t bother for a review, knowing he’d been stuck in front of the stumps.
Jagadeesha Suchith
A lesser-known bowler, left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith gets on this list when he had Kohli for a duck in an IPL 2022 match between SRH and RCB at the Wankhede. Kohli was in his poor form that season and Suchith got the big reward on the first ball of the match. It was a full delivery angling on Kohli’s pads. The batter chipped the ball but it went straight to Williamson at short mid-wicket.
Marco Jansen
In the other match between SRH and RCB in IPL 2022, at the Brabourne stadium, too, Kohli got out for a duck, this time to left-arm pacer Marco Jansen. Batting at number 3, Kohli came in early in the second over after du Plessis’ wicket. He didn’t get to settle in as Jansen dismissed him for a golden duck. A full ball from Jansen which Kohli pushed at but edged to Williamson at second slip.
Dushmantha Chameera
Kohli had a horrific time in IPL 2022 with a number of single-digit scores, including 3 ducks. The third one was against Dushmantha Chameera of Lucknow Super Giants in a league phase game at the DY Patil stadium. Sri Lankan pacer Chameera took two wickets in the first over, the second of that of Kohli. A short of a length ball outside off that Kohli played at it away from the body but didn’t keep it down and gave a simple catch to Deepak Hooda at backward point.
Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma has had an upper hand in many a battle with Virat in the IPL. This one dates back to 2014 when Sandeep Sharma played for Punjab in a game against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium. Sandeep took 2 wickets in his second over -those of Gayle and Kohli, out for a golden duck. It was a length ball from Sandeep in line with the stumps and Kohli edged on his flick. The ball was caught cleanly by wicket-keeper W Saha.
