Virat Kohli vs Australia: Batting Stats, Records in Test, ODI, T20I

Updated on Mar 20, 2024 14:26 IST

In this article, we will discuss about batting performance of Virat Kohli vs Australia Cricket team. We will get to know about his batting records, performance, skills, stats against Australia in all three formats of Cricket.

If there is an Indian batsman who has got the Australia nightmares of him, who won’t shy away from the fired up Australian bowlers, it is undoubtedly ‘The King’ Virat Kohli.

Let’s see Virat Kohli’s batting stats in all Cricket formats against AUS team:

Virat Kohli vs Australia in Test

Here, we will be discussing the batting performance of Virat Kohli against Australia in Test matches along with some records and stats.

Virat Kohli Test Stats vs Australia

Test Matches Played vs AUS20
Test Innings Played vs AUS36
Not Outs1
Test Runs Scored vs AUS1682
Highest Runs in an Test Innings169*
Test 100s vs AUS7
Test 50s vs AUS5
4s/6s190/5
Test Batting Average vs AUS48.05
Test Batting Strike Rate vs AUS52.49

Virat Kohli started off his test matches against Australia back in 2011, visibly lacking technique and struggling with his low stance on the bouncy green pitches of Australia to the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc.

Later he changed his technique with a taller and more open stance and delivered a breakthrough batting performance with a spectacular 75 on a bouncy Perth wicket.

In the final test match of the same series in Adelaide, the 8th test match of his career, the precociously talented Virat Kohli defied the Australian bowlers to post his maiden test century.

He is regarded by Australians as a man of pure class, known for his perfection, extraordinary focus and well – timed shots. Australian coach Justin Langer still remembers his on drive to get off the mark, the hardest shot in the book that can only be played by great players, which defines the batting prowess of Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli has played 19 test matches against Australia. He has scored 1604 runs off 34 innings with an average of 48.61 runs and a strike rate of 53.18. His highest score against Australia in test matches is 169 runs in Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2014.

Virat Kohli has scored 7 centuries and 4 half centuries against Australia in test matches.

Virat Kohli against Australia Test Bowlers

Though Virat Kohli has brilliant records against Australia, matters are not very easy for the right-handed batsman as it is difficult to deal with the pace and guile of Australian bowlers in test matches.

Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has dismissed Virat Kohli three times in the 4 test matches they have faced each other. Kohli has faced 160 deliveries from the Australian pacer and has managed to score 146 runs with a high strike rate of 91.25 which also involves 22 boundaries.

The current Australian Test bowlers who give a tough time to Kohli are Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.

Though Kohli is excellent at tackling spin bowlers, Nathan Lyon has managed to dismiss Kohli a record 7 times in 16 test matches. He has delivered 732 balls which included 479 dot balls and conceded only 384 runs. 

Mitchell Starc and Virat Kohli have been favourite rivals since their debut battle in 2012. They have waged war against each other in 10 test matches where Starc has dismissed Kohli thrice.

Virat Kohli often struggles against Starc and has managed to score only 172 runs off 317 deliveries which included 239 dot balls as well.

The best record by an Australian bowler in dismissing Virat Kohli belongs to Pat Cummins. The destructive right-handed pacer has taken Kohli’s wicket 4 times in just 5 test matches and has conceded only 66 runs off 202 deliveries which includes 171 dot balls. Virat Kohli has the lowest strike rate of 32.7 against Pat Cummins.

Josh Hazlewood is also an excellent bowler and is good at pressurising Virat Kohli. In 9 test matches, he has delivered 300 balls which included 230 dot balls. He has conceded 160 runs and has managed to dismiss Kohli three times.

Virat Kohli vs Australia in ODI

In this section, we will be analysing the batting performance of Virat Kohli against Australia in ODI matches along with some records and stats.

Virat Kohli ODI Stats vs Australia

ODI Matches Played vs AUS43
Not Outs3
ODI Runs vs AUS2083
Highest Score in ODI vs AUS123*
ODI 50s vs AUS10
ODI 100s vs AUS8
4s/6s185/23
ODI Batting Average vs AUS54.81
ODI Strike Rate vs AUS96.34

Virat Kohli is arguably one of the finest ODI batsmen of all time and is certainly the greatest ODI batsman of his generation. 

He has exhibited his batting excellence against Australia, even successfully chasing huge totals under pressure batting at the third position of the batting order. 

He is also a member of the elite list of batsmen to register hundred 50-plus score against Australia. Virat Kohli holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian batsman off 52 balls and it is noteworthy that he achieved this feat against Australia.

Kohli has played 40 ODI matches against Australia scoring 1910 runs off 38 innings with an average of 54.57 runs and a strike rate of 96.67. His highest score against Australia is 123 runs in 2019.

Virat Kohli has scored 8 centuries and 8 half centuries in ODI matches against Australia. Kohli ranks second in the list of most 100s by Indian batsmen against Australia in ODI after Sachin Tendulkar who has 9 centuries.

Virat Kohli against Australia ODI Bowlers

The Australian bowlers who dominate over Kohli in test matches often struggle to withhold the run machine in ODI matches. Virat Kohli has scored 80 runs against Mitchell Starc in 6 ODI matches with a strike rate of 95.24 and has not been dismissed even once in ODI matches. 

Pat Cummins has played against Virat Kohli in 12 ODI matches conceding 105 runs which includes 12 fours and 1 maximum with a strike rate of 99.06. He has dismissed Kohli only once in ODI matches. 

Similarly, Josh Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli only once in 3 ODI matches.

The major threat to Virat Kohli in ODI matches is Adam Zampa and Nathan Coulter Nile. 

Adam Zampa, the young Australian leggie has dismissed Kohli a record 7 times in 16 matches. Kohli has managed to score 174 runs off 148 deliveries against Zampa with a strike rate of 117.57. 

Nathan Coulter Nile is excellent at giving Kohli a very tough time in ODI matches. Kohli has faced 90 deliveries in 8 ODI matches and has managed to score only 66 runs with a low strike rate of 73.33. To make matters interesting, Coulter Nile has dismissed Kohli 3 times in ODI matches.

Virat Kohli vs Australia in T20I

Here, we will be discussing the batting performance of Virat Kohli against Australia in T20I matches along with some records and stats.

Virat Kohli T20I Stats vs Australia

T20I Matches Played vs AUS19
Not Outs6
T20I Runs vs AUS718
Highest Score in T20I vs AUS90*
T20I 50s vs AUS7
T20I 100s vs AUS0
4s/6s55/22
T20I Batting Average vs AUS59.83
T20I Strike Rate vs AUS146.23

Virat has proven his emphatic skills in T20I matches as well, thrashing boundaries and sixes with ease against Australian bowlers. 

He is one of India’s best limited-over batsmen and has showcased solid performances especially his highest score in T20I against Australia in Adelaide, 2016, 90* which is also his overall highest in the T20 format.

He has won the man of the match award twice, one man of the series award and has scored 4 fifties against Australia in their den which is a testimony to his batting excellence against Australia.

Virat Kohli has scored 584 runs against Australia in T20I off 15 innings, with an average of 64.9 runs and a strike rate of an extraordinary 147.1. He has remained not out 8 times and has played a pivotal role in winning several T20I matches against Australia.

Virat Kohli hasn’t scored a century against any team in T20I. He has scored 6 half centuries against Australia.

Virat Kohli against Australia T20I Bowlers

Just like in ODI matches, the major threat to Virat Kohli in T20I matches is Adam Zampa. Adam Zampa has dismissed Kohli two times in 6 T20I matches.

Kohli has managed to score only 40 runs off 39 deliveries which involved only 3 boundaries.

Nathan Coulter Nile has failed to continue his ODI proficiency against Kohli in T20I matches. He has encountered Kohli in 6 T20I matches, conceding 58 runs off 30 balls including 5 boundaries and 3 maximums. Kohli has a very high strike rate of 193.3 against Nathan Coulter Nile in T20I matches.