Virat Kohli vs Australia: Complete Stats, Records, and Rivalries

Virat Kohli’s battles with Australia have been nothing short of legendary. Time and again, he has turned up with performances that have not only silenced critics but also earned the respect of even the most passionate Aussie supporters. He has been a standout player against the Australian lineup, and what sets Kohli apart is the consistency with which he rises to the occasion against a team known for its aggressive brand of cricket and world-class bowling attack.

There have been numerous occasions which come to mind when we consider this rivalry of Virat Kohli vs Australia. During the 2014 BGT, when a young and aggressive Virat Kohli stepped onto the field as India's Test captain, after the retirement of MS Dhoni and especially when India was really struggling in red-ball cricket, that 26-year-old captain took charge from the front and smashed 692 runs in his debut series as a full-time Indian Test captain with four centuries in the series.

Although India ended up losing the series but the captain showed on the world stage that he won't back off against any opposition, and the change in mindset was evident that we are here to win.

Virat Kohli’s Overall Record vs Australia

Virat Kohli vs Australian bowlers is one of the greatest rivalries in cricket across all formats over the years. In Test cricket, Kohli has played 30 matches against Australia, smashing 2,232 runs at an average of 43.76, including 9 centuries. His ODI record is even more impressive, with 2,451 runs in 50 matches at an excellent average of 54.46 and 8 centuries, showing his consistency in limited-overs cricket against one of the most aggressive bowling units in the world.

In T20Is, he has scored 794 runs in 23 appearances at a solid strike rate of 130.00. Time and again, Kohli has stood tall against the Australian bowlers regardless of the format of the game.

Kohli vs Australia in ODIs

The Virat Kohli vs Australia ODI record is nothing short of spectacular. In 50 matches against the Aussies, he has scored 2,451 runs at an impressive average of 54.46, at a strike rate of around 94. His tally includes 8 centuries and 15 half-centuries. One of his most iconic performances came in Jaipur in 2013 when Kohli blasted the fastest century ever scored against Australia in ODIs, reaching 100 in just 52 balls. He is rightfully known as the chase master, as six of his eight centuries against Australia came while India was chasing a target. This shows his knack for pacing innings and accelerating when needed.

Virat Kohli’s match-winning knocks have often been the key to India’s success against Australia, such as his memorable 104 in Adelaide during the 2016 ODI series that helped India chase down 299. These performances have made his reputation as one of the best batsmen in the world.

Virat Kohli vs Australian Cricket Team in T20Is

Across 19 matches, Virat Kohli vs Australia T20I stats show the picture of a batsman who has been in prolific form in the shortest format as well. Kohli has scored 794 runs at a decent average of 36, striking at roughly 130. He has also scored seven fifty-plus innings in those clashes, the highest number of fifties any batter has scored vs Australia in T20Is.

One of the most memorable performances in the Kohli vs Australia T20I saga came during the 2016 ICC World T20 in Mohali. India were chasing 161, and early wickets left them in trouble. Kohli, however, played one of his best T20 innings, an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls, taking India home with five balls to spare. Other notable innings include his highest score vs Australia in a T20I: 90 not out at Adelaide in the early 2016 tour. Overall, Kohli vs Australia T20I stats are not just the big numbers, but many of those runs have come in chases, under pressure, or when India has been under early trouble.

Virat Kohli vs Australia National Cricket Team in Test Matches

The Virat Kohli vs Australian players comparison is one of the most searched things. In 30 Test matches against Australia, Kohli has scored 2,232 runs at an average of nearly 44, including nine centuries. Virat Kohli vs Australia is even more special because of his performance on Australian soil, where in 18 Tests he has smashed around 1,542 runs at an average of around 47, including seven centuries.

His maiden Test hundred against Australia came in Adelaide in 2012, a solid 116 that stood out in a struggling Indian innings. But it was the 2014–15 Border-Gavaskar series where Kohli truly announced himself as a Test giant, scoring 692 runs throughout the tour at an average of above 86 in the series. He smashed an iconic 169 in Melbourne and followed it with a magnificent 147 in Sydney, showcasing his dominance even against world-class quicks like Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood.

One of the most iconic moments of King Kohli's Test career came in Adelaide in 2014 when he scored twin centuries, 115 and 141, on his debut as captain, leading from the front in a high-pressure chase that India narrowly lost. These performances have come in testing conditions, where bounce, pace, and swing have troubled even the best. Virat Kohli vs Australian bowlers in Test cricket has delivered moments which has added his name forever into the history books of India-Australia cricket battles.

Virat Kohli Records Against Top Australian Bowlers

The stats of this rivalry between Virat Kohli unique records vs Australian bowlers, particularly the pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins, show some real fight between these cricketing giants. Among the three, Hazlewood has been the most successful against Kohli, dismissing him 11 times across all formats while conceding 274 runs from 495 deliveries. He has shown his ability to trouble Kohli, especially in Test cricket.

Mitchell Starc has had a slightly less effective record, giving away 449 runs off 650 balls and dismissing Kohli 7 times. Interestingly, the modern chasemaster has maintained a better strike rate against Starc. Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain and another world-class quick, has dismissed Kohli 8 times, while conceding 335 runs from 547 deliveries. These numbers showcase how Kohli had to work hard for every run against the best Australian bowlers, and while he has often stood tall with impactful knocks, these bowlers have also found ways to challenge him.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Starc

The battle between Virat Kohli vs Starc has been one of the most-watched individual rivalries in modern cricket, but the numbers show that it’s Kohli who has largely had the upper hand across formats. Over the years, Kohli has faced Mitchell Starc in all three formats and has scored approximately 449 runs off 650 balls from Starc, while being dismissed only 7 times.

In Test cricket specifically, Kohli has scored 278 runs off 477 deliveries, falling to Starc 6 times, giving him an average close to 46 in their head-to-head encounters. In ODIs, the dominance becomes even more evident: Kohli has made 156 runs off 155 balls, with Starc managing to dismiss him just once in all their ODI clashes.

Kohli vs Cummins

The rivalry between Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins is another one of those fiercely fought individual matchups in modern cricket. While Kohli has dominated many world-class bowlers over the years, Cummins has managed to pose a real challenge. In Test cricket, Kohli has scored 136 runs off 356 deliveries from Cummins, getting dismissed five times, which gives the Australian quick a slight edge in this format.

In ODIs, however, the numbers slightly tilt in Kohli’s favour. He has scored 174 runs off 175 balls from Cummins and has been dismissed twice, showing that in the shorter format, he's better able to rotate strike and find scoring opportunities. His battle with Starc has largely been in the Indian batter’s favour, but Virat Kohli vs Cummins rivalry remains finely balanced.

Virat Kohli vs Josh Hazlewood

The contest between Virat Kohli vs Josh Hazlewood is marked by mutual respect and high-quality cricket. Unlike some other bowlers whom Kohli has dominated, Hazlewood has managed to keep the Indian legend in check. Across formats, Kohli has scored 274 runs off 495 deliveries from Hazlewood while being dismissed 11 times, which shows the Australian pacer’s effectiveness in troubling one of the best batters in the world.

In Test matches, King Kohli has managed 173 runs off 367 balls, falling to Hazlewood five times. The ODI format tells a similar story, where Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli 5 times, while he has managed to score just 58 runs off 98 balls.

Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith - The Modern Greats Rivalry

The rivalry between two modern-day batting giants, Virat Kohli vs Smith, has long been a subject of debate among cricket fans and experts, and the stats across formats present an interesting comparison. In Test cricket, both players have been outstanding, with Steve Smith holding a slight edge in terms of run tally and centuries. Smith has scored 10,477 runs in 119 matches with 36 centuries, while Kohli has scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, including 30 centuries.

The dynamics shift significantly in white-ball cricket. In ODIs, Kohli is far ahead, both in runs and impact. Virat has scored 14,181 runs and 51 centuries in 302 matches, and he is far ahead of Smith's 5,800 runs and 12 centuries from 170 games, which shows Kohli’s dominance in the format. The T20I numbers tell a similar story.

Kohli’s numbers in the shortest format are evident from his 4,188 runs and 1 century in 125 matches, whereas Smith, with 1,094 runs in 67 games, has not registered a century. Clearly, when evaluating Virat Kohli vs Smith, the Indian batter holds a clear advantage in limited-overs formats, while the Australian has shown his ability and consistency in Tests.

Iconic Virat Kohli Innings vs Australia

Over the years, Virat Kohli has played several iconic innings, but a few stand out as true examples of his class. One of the most memorable knocks came during the 2014 Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where he scored a splendid 169 against Australia. He walked in under pressure after early wickets and built a massive partnership with Ajinkya Rahane to rescue India.

Moving on to Perth in 2018, Kohli played what he himself called one of his toughest knocks on Australian soil, a disciplined 123 runs knock on a pitch full of pace and bounce. Though India didn’t win the match, the quality of that innings against a fierce Australian pace attack was widely applauded by fans and experts.

In white-ball cricket, his 115* in the 2013 Nagpur ODI against Australia remains unforgettable. India were chasing a mammoth 351, and Kohli’s innings was a masterclass as he took India home with ease. And then, there’s his legendary 82* against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup at Mohali. In a knockout game, with the team in deep trouble, Kohli single-handedly carried India to victory.

Virat Kohli vs Australia Captaincy Record

Virat Kohli’s captaincy record against Australia is one of the most impactful chapters in modern cricket. In Test matches, he led India in 10 games against the Aussies, winning 4, losing 3, and drawing 3, including the historic 2018–19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India became the first Asian team to win a Test series on Australian soil.

In ODIs, Kohli captained India in 20 matches against Australia, out of which India won 12 and lost 8, maintaining a solid win percentage. His aggressive mindset, especially in Tests, brought around a change in the mindset of the players. He made every player believe that India can defeat top teams on their home soil, and he led from the front during his captaincy to achieve that result.

Conclusion

The rivalry between Virat Kohli vs Australia is one of the most compelling battles in modern cricket. His elegant centuries in tough Australian conditions, and some incredible run chases in high-pressure ODIs, or clutch performances in T20Is, Kohli has done it all against the strongest cricketing nation.

His battles with top-tier bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood have added a lot of interest for the fans to witness such quality cricketing action. As a captain, he led India to their first-ever Test series win on Australian soil in 2018–19. Virat's accomplishments both as a player and captain against the Aussies have truly added a memorable chapter in this long-standing India-Australia rivalry.