Indian veteran batter Virat Kohli lauded AB de Villiers after the former South African captain was inducted into ICC’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Kohli shares a strong bonhomie with AB de Villiers as shared the dressing room with him for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
Kohli and AB forged a potent alliance for the franchise and played a key role in the team’s success. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers is regarded as one of the best batters of this era and played a huge role in Proteas’ success.
Alongside AB de Villiers, former England captain Alastair Cook and former Indian women spinner Neetu David were inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Congratulating AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli wrote in a letter released by the ICC, “It is an honor to be selected to write these words as you enter the ICC Hall of Fame. You are thoroughly deserving of your place – after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique. People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one.
“But what truly stood out to me was your belief in that ability. You had a crazy amount of belief that you could execute whatever you wanted to on a cricket field, and you normally did. That is why you ended up being so special.”
Virat recalled AB’s knock against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2016. The South African scored an unbeaten knock of 59 runs off just 31 balls. Kohli recalled how de Villiers smashed Sunil Narine for a 94-m six.
“In the first over Narine bowled after the timeout, I was ready at the non-striker’s end thinking you were definitely giving me a single. So, imagine my surprise when you back away to the leg side, Sunil follows you and you slog sweep him over square leg for a 94-metre six! I don’t know what happened in the timeout to give you the belief you could do that. I just remember saying to you, ‘you’re a freak!’
“If I have a lack of belief against someone, I’d just try and get off strike – but you hit him for a 94-metre six without picking the ball. That sums you up. You could just do things our minds were not ready to process, and then everyone thinks ‘How the hell did that happen?’.That is just one of so many fond memories I have batting alongside you, times which provided some of the most fun I have had on a cricket field.”
The former Indian captain lauded de Villiers’ for always believing in his ability to deliver at the top level.
“It all comes back to that belief in your ability. It wasn’t just about the crazy, extravagant shots. You had the ability to defend the ball and had belief in that defence. To play that way because South Africa needed you to do so is a classic example of the team player you were.
“A lot of players can have impressive numbers but very few have an impact on the psyche of those watching. For me, that is the highest value you can have as a cricketer and that is what makes you so special.”
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