Sandeep Sharma has trapped Kohli 7 times in IPL: Stats
What's the story
Virat Kohli is the most successful batter in the Indian Premier League history, having mustered over 8,000 runs.
However, a few bowlers have managed to trouble him.
One of them is Sandeep Sharma, who has trapped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru talisman seven times in the league.
The pacer will play for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025.
Let's decode their rivalry.
Head-to-head
Kohli's performance against Sandeep Sharma: A statistical breakdown
In their previous IPL encounters, Kohli scored 104 runs across IPL 16 innings at a paltry average of 14.85, as per ESPNcricinfo.
As mentioned, the pacer has dismissed him seven times.
It must be noted that four of these dismissals have come in the powerplay phase (1-6 overs).
These stats indicate Sharma might have the upper hand when it comes to deceiving Kohli with his deliveries.
DYK
No other bowler has dismissed Kohli more often
While Sandeep has dismissed Kohli seven times, Ashish Nehra is the only other bowler to have trapped him on more than five occasions (6).
Notably, Sunil Narine is the only other bowler to have trapped a particular batter more times in the IPL, having sent back Rohit Sharma on nine occasions.
Meanwhile, Rohit is the only other batter to be dismissed by Sandeep more than four times in IPL, having fallen to the pacer on five occasions.
Do you know?
Only bowler to dismiss the dangerous trio
Although the dangerous RCB trio of Chris Gayle, Virat, and AB de Villiers played seven IPL seasons together, there was a solitary instance of one bowler dismissing all three in the same game.
Sandeep owns this feat as he ran through the RCB line-up in the 2017 game in Bengaluru.
The pacer took all the there key wickets in the powerplay.
Player profiles
Kohli's IPL statistics and Sandeep Sharma's bowling prowess
Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having scored 8,004 runs from 252 games at an average of 38.67 and a strike rate of 131.97.
He scored a whopping 741 runs in IPL 2024 at 61.75. His strike rate was 154.69.
Meanwhile, Sandeep has taken 137 wickets from only 126 matches at an economy of 7.89.
He claimed 13 scalps last season at an economy of 8.18.