AB de Villiers Reveals Initial Dislike for Virat Kohli Before Friendship Blossomed

AB de Villiers Opens Up About His Relationship with Virat Kohli

Renowned cricketer AB de Villiers has shared that he initially did not have a favorable opinion of Virat Kohli, and it was only after they met while playing for RCB in the IPL that their friendship developed. This revelation came after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, concluding a remarkable 14-year career.

The South African star admitted that he found Kohli to be a tough competitor, making it challenging to play against him due to his intense competitive nature.

In a statement to the ICC, de Villiers expressed, "Virat is like my cricketing brother. As I got to know him, I started to appreciate him more. Competing against him was quite difficult. Initially, I didn't like him because he was exceptionally talented and competitive, just like me. I also had a fierce competitive spirit on the field. We both love to win and are dedicated to giving our all for the team."

He further elaborated, "Whenever someone challenges us, our aggressive side comes out. Then I got to see Virat play for RCB. We became family friends and developed a brotherly bond. When we played together, we understood each other very well. I cherish every moment spent with him."