Not Sachin Tendulkar! Virat Kohli declares AB de Villiers as 'absolute no.1' and ‘most talented cricketer'

India National Cricket Team batter Virat Kohli came up with a heartfelt message for his friend AB de Villiers. This comes after the former South Africa National Cricket Team batter was Inducted into the Hall of Fame by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday (16th October).

AB de Villiers, along with former England National Cricket Team skipper Alastair Cook and Indian legend Neetu David, were inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. They were included in the elite list based on their contributions to the game for their respective National teams across the formats.

AB de Villiers arguably was one of the cleanest strikers of the ball. The former South Africa player changed the way the game was played. His 360-degree ability made him unique and his impact on the game was something that many even dream to do.

Averaging over 50 in the two longer formats, AB de Villiers was touted as the run machine for the South Africa National Cricket Team. He broke quite a few records, and one among them, which still holds, is the fastest-ever men’s ODI century. He began his career as the second-leading run-scorer for the South Africa 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. While calling the former South Africa player the most talented cricketer he has played with, he said that this achievement is the representation of his impact. He stated (as quoted by ICC):

"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. 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."

In the letter further, Virat Kohli shared an incident after, even after having a lack of self-belief, AB de Villiers stood tall for the team, attacking Sunil Narine, against whom he struggled to get going. He added:

"We were chasing 184 (for RCB in 2016) against an attack including Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan. You came in to join me with around 70 on the board and Narine was bowling.

"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.

"In the first over, Narine bowled after the timeout; I was ready at the non-striker’s end, thinking you were 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!

"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?’"

You were always completely in tune with the needs of the team - Virat Kohli on AB de Villiers

The letter from Virat Kohli further highlighted how hard AB de Villiers was as a player. He pointed out his innings at Delhi when he faced 297 balls to save the Test match. He elaborated:

"You were always completely in tune with the needs of the team, which made you one of the hardest players to make plans for when we were on opposing sides in international cricket.

"Everyone remembers your attacking shots but you would adapt to the situation. Take 2015, in Delhi, when you faced 297 balls and made 43 trying to save the Test match.

"There must have been a temptation at some stage to think ‘, I’ve faced 200 balls; I need to hit a boundary’. But once you locked yourself into what the situation required, you just kept going on and on.

"It all comes back to that belief in your ability. It wasn’t just about the crazy, extravagant shots. You could 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. Your drive to want to be the guy to win the game for your team was tremendous and something I learned a lot from,"

Virat Kohli talks about the learnings that he has got from AB de Villiers.

Virat Kohli also talked about the learnings that he has got from AB de Villiers. He said that the batter had an impact on the psyche of those watching the game with his numbers and that made him special.

"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. 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."

You are one of the greatest players to ever play the game - Virat Kohli on AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli further said that there isn't any cricketer more deserving than AB de Villiers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He concluded by calling him one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He said:

"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. You are one of the greatest players to ever play the game."