RCB Bold Diaries: Bowling to Virat gets the best out of you at any stage – Josh Hazlewood

Virat Kohli has always put up a massive challenge for the best of the bowlers across the world. As RCB and KKR kicked off the IPL 2025 season, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten half-century was another key component in the Royal Challengers' opening win of the tournament.

His teammate at RCB, Josh Hazlewood, opened up about the feeling of what it is like to bowl at him in the nets. Talking in one of the latest RCB Bold Diaries videos, Hoff explained that Virat brings out the very best in anyone who is up against him in the nets or at the international stage. He further added that a preparatory season against Virat can make a bowler feel mentally equipped to take on any challenge.

Josh said, “I think bowling to Virat at any stage is, it gets the best out of you. You know you might be turning up to training a little bit flat, just go through the motions but you look down and see him 22 yards away. I feel like it just kicks you in the gear and gets a lot out of you in training, I think it’s a great battle all the time, we’ve got some good tussles in the middle as well in international cricket too.”

Hazlewood further added, “He obviously has that aura about him. We fully respect, you know what he’s done in the game and what he’s still doing now. He’s probably that one player who comes at you, plays his shots, likes to tick the scoreboard over, he’s always a huge wicket for us in any format. He scored a lot of hundreds against us in all formats, so in the nets he gets a little more out of you and you finish the session like you’re okay, I am ready for the game, definitely.”