Virat Kohli’s always been a thinker, deeper than just a cricketer, opines AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers has shared that Virat Kohli, with whom he plays at RCB in the IPL, is a great thinker and experiments with a lot of things. De Villiers further added that Kohli is deeper than just a cricketer and often goes as deep as understanding afterlife and life beyond cricket as well.
From being a brash teenage cricketer to a statesman that the sport needed, Virat Kohli’s evolution is the story of our times. The Kohli persona that we are witnessing right now not only has a mature body of work but also has a sensitive understanding of all the virtues needed in a celebrity.
By virtue of being an Indian cricket captain - undoubtedly the most tenuous and scrutinised job in the sport - Kohli has the responsibility of standing for certain things that would enrich the game as a whole and he did that with elan. Having a close view of that development from the confines of the dressing room for two months a year, AB de Villiers stated that the RCB skipper has always been a thinker.
"Obviously when it comes to the IPL in India, it's been more than friendship. Virat obviously - not only during the IPL, we chat throughout the year, which means it's different than just the IPL or cricketing friendship,” de Villiers told Pommie Mbangwa, reported ESPN Cricinfo.
"He's much deeper than just a cricket player […] I think most people realise after a while that there's more to life than just cricket. I think we all fall into that bubble initially. But Virat's always been a thinker, he experiments a lot of things, he loves trying new things out - gym wise, what he puts in his mouth. He thinks a lot about life after life - what's to come, the different religions, we talk about everything.
"We go pretty deep and his missus as well, Anushka, we have very deep conversations, which is fantastic. We talk about children and family. We're waiting for that first little Kohli to come. It's a good friendship and we always find a way to talk about cricket as well, but 90% of the time we talk about other stuff. It's refreshing and in the middle of a very intense IPL tournament."
When Mbangwa quizzed the talismanic South African to choose between Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, the former South African skipper was smart enough to dodge it in a smart way but added that Tendulkar is the one both he and Virat Kohli look up to.
"Sachin is a role model for both of us - the way he stood out in his era, the things he achieved and with the grace he did all that is a great example for everyone. And I think Virat will also say that he set the standards for us to follow. But personally, in a chase, I'd say Virat is the best I've seen in my life. Sachin was amazing in all formats and all situations, but Virat comes out on top while chasing,” de Villiers said.