Not Yuvraj Singh! Stuart Broad names Virat Kohli and this Australia star as hardest batters to bowl to

Former England right-arm pacer Stuart Broad, who is currently doing commentary with Star Sports in the Indian Premier League 2024, has made a bold revelation from his playing days. He has named former India and Australian captains Virat Kohli and Steve Smith as two of the most difficult batsmen that he has ever bowled to. Broad made this claim while speaking to the official IPL broadcasters last night in the post-match analysis of Rajasthan Royals' 3-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. 

Many of us might be shocked as to how Stuart Broad considers Virat Kohli and Steve Smith as the most difficult batters that he has faced in his playing days when Yuvraj Singh, to this day, remains the only batter to give Broad serious nightmares. Kohli and Smith might be technically more sound than Yuvraj but what the left-hand batter did to Broad in 2007, still remains the most desolating moment in a bowler's career. 

In a match where Stuart Broad's father was the match referee, Yuvraj Singh smacked him for 6 sixes in a row during the group stages of the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup back in 2007 in South Africa. But the entire blame cannot be put on Broad as Andrew Flintoff also had a part to play but it was the former who became the subject of Yuvi's wrath. And despite this fact, how can the Englishman name Virat Kohli and Steve Smith as the most difficult batters he has bowled to?

Virat Kohli shining bright in IPL 2024 but RCB continue with their woes 

Talking of Virat Kohli, the Indian batting stalwart is having yet another season to remember so far. The former RCB captain, who had a sensational season in the 2023 IPL edition, is looking well on course for another 500+ run season. Last year, Kohli smashed 639 runs, which was the first time he crossed the 500-run mark since the 2018 edition. He scored those 600+ runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82. 

Virat Kohli had also scored 2 full centuries and accounted for 6 half-centuries in total with a best of 101*. This season from the first 5 matches, Kohli has been able to register 319 runs at an improved strike rate of 140 and he is currently averaging 79.75. But many will claim that none of the runs that he has scored till now has actually helped the RCB in winning matches. When he scored triple figures for the first time this season, RCB had lost against Rajasthan Royals. 

When he scored just 3 runs, RCB still lost against Mumbai Indians. In such a case, what should a batter do when the rest of his teammates aren't helping at all? But nonetheless, from his perspective, he should continue playing his own game and keep preparing well for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June. 

RCB face SRH up next 

After losing 5 of their first 6 matches, RCB are going to welcome Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy in their must-win next league game tomorrow.