Stories
Why AB de Villiers believes current Virat Kohli is better than his 2016 peak
- •Virat Kohli recently scored an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls against the West Indies, surpassing 15,000 ODI runs and showcasing a major shift in his aggressive batting strategy.
- •Since the South Africa series, Kohli has amassed 854 runs in 12 ODI innings at an impressive strike rate of 117.63, marking one of the most successful phases of his career.
- •AB de Villiers stated that the current version of Kohli is superior to his 2016 peak because he appears completely relaxed, free, and relies on gut instinct rather than overanalyzing.
- •De Villiers noted that Kohli is no longer too intense and is simply enjoying expressing his talents on the field while inspiring younger players in the dressing room.
Key Questions Answered
AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli's current version is superior because he appears completely relaxed, totally free, and plays on instinct rather than overanalyzing the game. This relaxed mindset leads to sounder decisions and makes him practically unstoppable on the field.
Kohli has demonstrated a major strategic shift by playing only in the IPL and one international format, pushing himself to up the ante and play a gear or two higher. Since the beginning of the series against South Africa, he has amassed 854 runs at a strike rate of 117.63 across 12 ODI innings, including an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies.
AB de Villiers praised Virat Kohli as having the best work ethic he has ever seen, ensuring that the batsman would not enter the tournament undercooked after receiving some well-deserved rest. De Villiers also described Kohli as the heartbeat of Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to his energy, leadership, and enduring presence.
