James Anderson Discusses Challenges of Bowling to Virat Kohli

Anderson Reflects on His Cricketing Rivalries

James Anderson, the former England cricket star, shared insights on his most challenging encounters on the field during a conversation with the TalkSport podcast. He specifically highlighted the difficulties he faced while bowling to Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, and discussed his mindset during those matches. Interestingly, Anderson noted that he found Kohli to be a tougher opponent compared to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli recently announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Anderson remarked, “I had some early success against Kohli during his first tour to England in 2014. I capitalized on a weakness he had outside the off-stump. However, when I faced him again, he had clearly worked on that aspect and seemed like a completely different player.”

He continued, “Kohli elevated his game significantly, making it challenging not just for me but for bowlers overall. In the first series, I managed to dismiss him four or five times, but in the subsequent series, I couldn't get him out at all. In contrast, I didn’t experience such a drastic shift in dominance when playing against Sachin.”

James Anderson said "Virat Kohli is the toughest batter I have bowled to in the Fab 4. [TalkSport podcast] pic.twitter.com/LNoLOlm0pr

— khabresh (@khab_resh) June 16, 2025

Statistical Overview: Kohli vs. Anderson

As per Cricmetric, Virat Kohli has accumulated 305 runs from 710 balls against James Anderson in Test matches. Anderson has successfully dismissed Kohli on 7 occasions, showcasing a competitive rivalry. Kohli's batting average against Anderson stands at 43.6, with a strike rate of 43.0, indicating a cautious approach, especially given the high number of 560 dot balls faced. With 39 boundaries and no sixes, Kohli's strategy appears to favor ground shots in these matchups. Their rivalry remains one of the most intriguing in contemporary Test cricket.