Team India star and former captain Virat Kohli congratulated AB de Villiers on his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for 2024. De Villiers was honored on October 16.
Kohli and de Villiers share a strong bond, having become friends in 2011 when the South African joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They formed the core of the franchise’s batting until de Villiers’ retirement before the 2022 IPL season, amassing 3,123 runs together, including 10 century partnerships.
On October 16, de Villiers was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside England’s Alistair Cook and India Women’s spinner Neetu David. Kohli expressed his congratulations in a letter shared by the ICC on their official website. The letter stated:
“It is an honour to be selected to write these words as you enter the ICC Hall of Fame. 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.”
“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. That is why you ended up being so special.”
The 35-year-old reminisced about AB’s performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2016, mentioning that he had the most enjoyable time batting with him on the field. He said:
“In the first over after the timeout, I was at the non-striker’s end expecting you to give me a single. So, I was shocked when you moved to the leg side, Sunil followed, and you hit a slog sweep over square leg for a 94-metre six! I have no idea what happened during the timeout that boosted your confidence, but I just remember telling you, ‘you’re amazing!'”
“If I feel uncertain against a bowler, I usually try to get off strike, but you hit him for a 94-metre six without even picking the ball. That’s quintessential you. You did things that left us all thinking, ‘How did that happen?’ That’s just one of many cherished memories I have from batting with you—those moments brought me some of the most enjoyment I’ve ever had on the cricket field.”
“It all boils down to having confidence in your skills” – Virat Kohli on AB de Villiers’ batting
Kohli spoke highly of the former Protea captain, commenting on his exceptional batting in various situations, he added:
“It all comes down to having confidence in your abilities. It wasn’t just about the flashy shots; you could defend well and had faith in your defense. Playing that way for South Africa when needed is a true testament to the team player you were.”
“Many players may have great statistics, but few influence the mindset of those watching. For me, that’s the greatest value a cricketer can possess, and it’s what makes you exceptional.”
Ultimately, Kohli congratulated de Villiers on his induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, calling him “one of the greatest players to ever play the game.”
AB de Villiers had a remarkable cricket career, amassing 20,000 runs across formats for South Africa over 14 years. He retired from international cricket in 2018 and continued playing in the IPL for a few more years before retiring from the sport in 2021.
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