'I didn't really like Virat Kohli': AB de Villiers makes shocking revelation

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has opened up about star Indian batter Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket ahead of the England series. The legendary cricketer described the 36-year-old as one of his closest cricketing brothers, adding that he enjoyed every second of playing with him.

Virat ended his Test career with 9,230 runs at an average close to 47 across 123 matches. However, he failed to live up to expectations in recent years. He averaged just 22.47 over his last 10 Tests. The right-handed batter managed only three centuries in 39 appearances in the longer format since 2020.

Virat Kohli Is Like One of My Cricketing Brothers - AB de Villiers

In a video shared by ICC on Instagram, AB de Villiers called Virat Kohli one of his “cricketing brothers.” He admitted that before knowing Kohli personally, he didn't like him. De Villiers said that Kohli thrives under pressure and always puts the team first.

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"Virat is like one of my cricketing brothers, someone I really grew fond of when I got to know him better. He's an absolute bane to play against. So, before I knew him, I didn't really like him a lot because he was so good and so competitive — very similar to me with that competitive nature," the former cricketer said.

"We really like winning and we like to pull our weight within the team environment, and if anything threatens that, it usually brings out aggressive body language — one that will attack back. And that's exactly what Virat was like playing against," he added.

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We Became Family Friends, Became Brothers - AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers said that his close bond with Virat Kohli grew during their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He shared that their friendship evolved into a personal and professional relationship. De Villiers cherished every moment they played together.

"Then I got to know him at RCB — I got to know him a lot better. We became family friends, became brothers, and also became great partners at the wicket when we played together. We really understood each other out there, and I probably enjoyed every second of playing with him."

What Lies Ahead for Virat Kohli in the 2025 IPL Season

Virat Kohli will next focus on the 2025 IPL season, where he has been in excellent form. The right-handed batter has amassed 505 runs in 11 innings at an average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46, with seven half-centuries, all in victories.

His team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are second in the standings, with eight wins and 16 points from 11 matches. They are just one win away from securing a playoff spot. Notably, RCB has never won the IPL title.

After the IPL, Kohli will only feature for India in ODIs, following his retirement from Test and T20I cricket. It remains to be seen whether he will continue playing until the 2027 ODI World Cup, the next major ICC event for one-day cricket.

Also read: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan to represent India A vs England Lions, CSK pacer's selection confirmed