Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket superstar, has hailed AB de Villiers as the “absolute number one” after the South African legend was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. De Villiers, along with Sir Alastair Cook and Neetu David, was inducted into the Class of 2024.
Kohli and De Villiers have been close friends on and off the field for years, and the former penned an open letter to congratulate “Mr. 360” on his induction. “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,” Kohli wrote.
Kohli praised De Villiers’ exceptional talent and unwavering belief in his abilities. “You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one,” he stated. “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.”
Kohli recalled an unforgettable incident during an RCB match in Kolkata in 2016, where De Villiers’ extraordinary six off Sunil Narine left him in awe. “You played and missed a couple and told me during a timeout that you weren’t picking him too well. I felt I was, so I remember telling you to give me the strike and I would try and hit boundaries off him,” Kohli wrote. “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!”
Kohli also highlighted De Villiers’ unwavering commitment to his team. “Your drive to want to be the guy to win the game for your team was tremendous and something I learned a lot from,” he said. “I remember taking from you that it doesn’t matter what you have done in the last four games, it is about how you approach the game today. It is about always being positive, always taking the game on and finding a way to get the job done.”
Kohli concluded his letter by expressing his admiration for De Villiers’ impact on the game. “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,” he wrote. “You are in the Hall of Fame for 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.”
