Indian National Cricket Team batsman Virat Kohli has come up with a heartfelt message for his friend AB de Villiers. This comes after the former South African National Cricket Team was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday (October 16).
AB de Villiers was drafted into the team along with former England National Cricket Team captain Alastair Cook and Indian legend Neetu David. ICC Hall of Fame. They have been included in the elite list for their contributions to the game of their national teams across formats.
AB de Villiers was undoubtedly one of the cleanest hitters of the ball. The former South African footballer changed the course of the game. His 360-degree ability made him unique and his impact on the game was something many could only dream of.
AB de Villiers, who averaged over 50 in the two longer formats, was introduced as a run machine for the South African National Cricket Team. He broke several records and one of them is the fastest men’s ODI century which still stands. He started his career as the second leading run scorer for the South African National Cricket Team.
As AB de Villiers was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, his best mate Virat Kohli came up with a heartfelt message. Calling the former South African player the most talented cricketer he has played with, he said the achievement was a testament to his influence. He (as quoted by the ICC):
“You absolutely deserve your place – at the end of the day, the Hall of Fame is the embodiment of your impact on the game, and yours is truly unique. People have always talked about your ability, and rightly so.
“You’re the most talented cricketer I’ve ever played with, definitely number one. You had a crazy belief that you could do whatever you wanted on the cricket field and you usually did. That’s why you’re so. special.”
Later in the letter, Virat Kohli shared an incident after AB de Villiers attacked Sunil Narine, who struggled to get going, standing tall for the team even after a lack of confidence. He added:
“We were chasing 184 (for RCB in 2016) against an attack that included Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan. You came to join me with about 70 on the board and Narine was bowling.
“You made a couple of plays and missed and he told me at halftime that you weren’t picking it very well. I felt like that, so I remember you give me the shot and I’m going to try to get over it.
“In the first over, Narine bowled after the time-out; I was ready at the non-striker’s end, I thought you were giving me a single. So imagine my surprise when you turned to leg-side. Sweep it over square leg for a 94m six!”
“If I don’t have confidence in somebody, I’d just try to stop the shot – but you hit him for a 94-yard six without getting the ball. That wraps you up. You can just do things that our minds don’t know are ready to process and then everybody’s like, ‘How did that happen?’ he thinks.
You were always exactly what the team needed – Virat Kohli in AB de Villiers
Virat Kohli’s letter further highlighted how tough AB de Villiers is as a player. He celebrated his innings in Delhi when he faced 297 balls to save the Test match. He elaborated:
“You were always perfectly suited to the needs of the team, which made you one of the most difficult players in international cricket to plan against when we were in opposing sides.
“Everybody remembers the batting, but you would adapt to the situation. Take 2015 in Delhi, when you faced 297 balls and tried to save a Test match with 43 balls.
“At some stage, I faced 200 balls; There must have been a temptation to think, ‘I have to push a line.’
“It all comes back to your belief in your ability. It wasn’t just about crazy, extravagant shots. You could defend the ball and you had confidence in that defence. Playing like that because South Africa needed you. You were a classic example of a team player.
“A lot of players can have impressive numbers, but very few players affect the psyche of the audience. To me, that’s the highest value you can have as a cricketer and that’s what makes you special. To be the man to win the game for your team was huge and I I learned a lot”
Virat Kohli talks about learnings from AB de Villiers.
Virat Kohli also talked about the learnings he got from AB de Villiers. He said that the hit affected the psyche of those watching the game with his numbers and that made him special.
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the last four games, it’s about how you approach the game today. It’s always being positive, always taking the game and finding a way to get the job done. Many players may have impressive numbers, but very few players affect the psyche of the audience. For me, that’s the highest value you can have as a cricketer and that’s what makes you so special.”
You are one of the greatest players to ever play the game – Virat Kohli in AB de Villiers
Virat Kohli further said that there is no cricketer who deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame than AB de Villiers. He concluded by calling him one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He said:
“You are in the Hall of Fame because of the impact you have left on the game and I don’t think there is anything more special for a cricketer than to have that honour. You are one of the greatest players to ever play the game.”
