3 KKR Bowlers Who Can Take Virat Kohli's Wicket In IPL 2025 Opener

Bowlers who can dismiss Kohli [Source: @IPL/X.com]

Saturday, March 22 will witness the first match of the IPL 2025 season as the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on the ever-popular, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a mouth-watering contest at the home of the champions, Eden Gardens.

KKR have had an upper hand against RCB over the years and they will once again be the firm favourites. While KKR have all the tools and brilliant bowlers to succeed, RCB have their hopes rest on their talisman, Virat Kohli.

The Indian star has been associated with the franchise since the inaugural season and will once again be their key player. The defending champions will need to dismiss him early and here are 3 KKR bowlers who can do that job for the franchise.

1) Sunil Narine

Virat Kohli vs Sunil Narine has always been about epic clashes and Saturday won't be any different as the duo will once again battle against each other. Interestingly, the KKR spinner has the upper hand and will be the favourite to dismiss Kohli once again.

(Narine stats Vs Kohli in IPL)

• Kohli has the tendency to struggle against spinners and Narine has had the upper hand against him in the IPL. The West Indian star is known for his mystery and the RCB batter has struggled against spin over the years.
• Narine bowls a brilliant drifter as the ball skids through and sometimes Kohli gets beaten on the flick and gets trapped on the front-leg. The KKR bowler will try and use the tactics once again.

2) Anrich Nortje

Kohli loves pace on the ball, but surprisingly, he has an average record against the express pace of Anrich Nortje. The Proteas pacer has troubled Kohli with his pace and bounce in the past and if he plays on Saturday, Nortje could cause trouble to him.

(Nortje Vs Kohli in IPL)

• Even though Nortje has only dismissed Kohli once in IPL, the pacer has not allowed the RCB star to free his arms against him.
• Nortje targets the body-line area and Kohli, in recent years has struggled on that line and if Nortje uses the same tactics, he could once again dismiss him on Saturday.

3) Varun Chakaravarthy

The real mystery spinner of the squad, Varun Chakaravarthy is in the form of his life and was India's MVP in the Champions Trophy. Just like Narine, he too, has strangled Kohli for runs as the RCB great doesn't have a good record in front of him.

(Chakaravarthy vs Kohli in IPL)

• Chakravarthy just like Narine has too many mystery deliveries and Kohli's track record says that he fails to read them up. This is what the KKR spinner can utilise against his battle with Kohli.
• With a strike-rate of just 102 against Chakaravarthy, Kohli could come under pressure and try out a blind slog which could result in his wicket.

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