AB de Villiers praised his former teammate Virat Kohli. He said that Virat Kohli is on the same level as legendary sportsmen like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.
De Villiers expressed his view that what makes Kohli stand out from others is his strong ambition and determination to be the best. He mentioned that this particular quality is shared by many of the world’s greatest sporting icons.
AB de Villiers praises Virat Kohli
“What a remarkable man (Virat Kohli) and player. He has got a huge following around the world. Why? Because he is the best, in my humble opinion. It’s been an absolute pleasure to play with and against Virat, and there are a few things that stand out to me. Yes, he has got the talent, he has played from a very young age, he was earmarked as one of the big up-and-coming players for India,” De Villiers said.
“But one thing stands out, and it is a similar thing that I see in all the greatest sportsmen around the world. I see it in Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, all of them have one thing in common: desire, hunger, and a fighting spirit. The desire to never give up. They want to be the best,” he added.
In the recently finished second Test match between India and West Indies, Virat Kohli reached a milestone of 500 international matches. The exceptional batsman achieved his 76th century in that game, scoring 121 runs in the first innings.
AB de Villiers also shared about their initial meeting when Virat Kohli was quite young. He mentioned how he has observed and followed the progress of the Indian batsman, seeing him develop over time. The 39-year-old expressed his joy in watching the experienced player bat and praised Kohli for his remarkable achievements and record-breaking performances.
“The second Test match was a draw, but a very special one for my good friend, Vrat Kohli. He scored his 76th century and has played 500 games of international cricket now. That is absolutely astonishing. He has broken some records and equalled some records. I have watched this guy grow up in a way. I met him when he was very young, and it’s an absolute pleasure to watch him play with all his experience now. He is calm and collected. He is a senior player in that Indian setup. He is a legend and a hero to so many, and I love watching him play and that makes me very happy to see him do so well,” he said.
Kohli will next play in the upcoming three-match ODI series between India and West Indies, which is set to start on Thursday, July 27.
