After Ab de Villiers' induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, close friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Virat Kohli writes a heartfelt letter praising his "freakish" talent. Kohli recalls a match in 2016 when de Villiers' unconventional slogging against Sunil Narine left him in awe and speaks of his ability to perform under pressure in red ball cricket. Despite being known for his exploits in limited overs cricket, de Villiers has also shown his grit and determination in saving Test matches for South Africa.
Virat Kohli Pens Heartfelt Tribute to AB de Villiers After ICC Hall of Fame Induction
Following AB de Villiers' induction into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame, his Indian Premier League (IPL) teammate and close friend, Virat Kohli, has penned a heartfelt letter expressing his admiration for the South African legend.
Kohli's Letter
In his letter, Kohli lauded de Villiers' exceptional talent, recalling a memorable match in 2016 when he witnessed firsthand the batter's unorthodox yet brilliant counterattack against West Indies spinner Sunil Narine. Kohli also highlighted de Villiers' ability to perform under pressure in Test cricket, despite his reputation as a limited-overs specialist.
"I have had the privilege of witnessing some of his most extraordinary performances up close, and it has been an honor to share the dressing room with such a gifted player," wrote Kohli. "His ability to defy the laws of physics with the bat is truly freakish."
Kohli went on to describe de Villiers' unyielding determination and his ability to save Test matches for South Africa. He concluded his letter by expressing his belief that de Villiers' legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers.
Background
AB de Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2018. During his career, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game. Known for his aggressive style and innovative shots, he set numerous batting records and won several individual accolades.
De Villiers was a key member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL team, where he played alongside Kohli from 2011 to 2021. The duo formed a formidable partnership and helped RCB reach multiple IPL finals.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What is the ICC Hall of Fame? The ICC Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the greatest players in the history of cricket who have made significant contributions to the sport.
2. What criteria are used to induct players into the ICC Hall of Fame? Players are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame at least five years after their international retirement. They must have demonstrated exceptional skill, achieved outstanding results, and contributed to the growth of the game.
3. How many players have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame? As of September 2023, there are 97 players inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, including AB de Villiers.
4. Why is AB de Villiers considered one of the greatest batters ever? De Villiers possessed a unique blend of power, elegance, and innovation. He was known for his remarkable ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground with precision and ease.
5. What is Virat Kohli's relationship with AB de Villiers? Kohli and de Villiers were teammates at RCB for over a decade. They developed a close friendship and became known for their mutual respect and admiration for each other's exceptional talent.
Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. Lead Nuggets Past Lakers 127-102 The Denver Nuggets showed their strength in a dominant performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Led by Nikola Jokic's 34 points and Michael Porter Jr.'s 24, the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 70-39 in the second half and took control of the game. Despite an impressive performance from Russell Westbrook, scoring 14 points against his former team, the Lakers had no answer for Denver's inside and outside game. This was the first meeting between the two teams since the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers in the playoffs earlier this year, and it was a clear statement from Denver that they are still a dominant force in the Western Conference.
La Liga leaders Barcelona were stunned by Celta Vigo in a 2-2 draw, with two late goals securing a point for the home team. Despite a strong start and goals from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona's collapse in the final minutes allowed Celta Vigo to snatch a draw. Coach Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment in his team's performance, and noted the absence of key player Lamine Yamal.
The mega auction for IPL 2025 is currently happening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All ten franchises are making their moves to create a strong team for the upcoming 18th edition of the tournament. With Rs 110.50 crore in their purse, Punjab Kings have the biggest arsenal while Rajasthan Royals have the smallest with Rs 41 crore. In other news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged young people to join NCC and popular South Korean actors like Kim Soo-hyun and Byeon Woo-Seok are being recognized for their iconic roles. In cricket, India struggles against Australia in the 1st Test as half of their team has departed cheaply, including Rishabh Pant and Parag Jurel. Meanwhile, New Zealand's T20 World Cup champion has been ruled out for the rest of 2024 due to a bone stress fracture while KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal's partnership in Perth breaks a 38-year-old record.
In one of the most shocking football matches of the season, Manchester City suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham at Etihad Stadium. The Blues' hopes of bouncing back after four consecutive losses were crushed by James Maddison's brace and goals from Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min. The defeat marked Manchester City's first home loss in over two years, leaving manager Pep Guardiola with a lot to ponder. Relive all the highlights of this thrilling game in our live blog, including Rodri's Ballon d'Or parade.
In the midst of India’s tour of Australia, young cricket prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal stunned the sports world with his maiden test century. Australian commentator Gerard Whateley was quick to recognize the 19-year-old’s exceptional talent, dubbing him “the chosen one.” With a batting masterclass of 100 and counting, Jaiswal’s extraordinary skills and inspiring journey have captured the admiration and respect of fans and pundits alike.
Atalanta secures the top spot in the Serie A standings with a 3-1 victory over Parma, surpassing Inter Milan's 5-0 rout of Verona. Mateo Retegui scores his 12th league goal of the season to give the visitors an early lead, followed by goals from Ederson and Ademola Lookman. Despite Napoli dropping to third before their match against Roma, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini remains focused on maintaining a winning mentality.
In a stellar performance in the first Test against Australia, Yashasvi Jaiswal, at just 21 years old, notched his first-ever Test century on Australian soil. With this achievement, he also became the youngest Indian opener since Sachin Tendulkar to score a hundred in Australia. Furthermore, Jaiswal also broke a record for the most sixes hit in a calendar year in Test history, solidifying himself as a rising star in the world of cricket.
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made history on Sunday as he became the third Indian to score a century in his first Test match in Australia. Jaiswal's feat is now on par with Motganhalli Jaisimha and legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who also achieved the same milestone in 1968 and 1977 respectively. Despite a shaky start with an eight-ball duck in the first inning, Jaiswal reached the 100-run mark with a six off Josh Hazlewood in the second inning.
Barcelona, the current leaders of La Liga, suffered a shocking collapse in their match against Celta Vigo, ending in a 2-2 draw. Coach Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment in the team's poor performance, calling it "nothing like what we want to see." With this result, Barcelona remains five points clear at the top of the table, but their inability to secure three points without star player Lamine Yamal is cause for concern.
The IPL 2025 Auction promises to be an extravaganza as a total of 577 cricketers, including late entries like England's Jofra Archer and USA's Saurabh Netravalkar, will go under the hammer. With only 10 franchises vying for 201 available slots, the auction is expected to trigger fierce bidding wars. While Punjab Kings have the biggest purse, Rajasthan Royals will have a challenging task with limited budget. The addition of three international players has also added more diversity to the player pool, making it a must-watch event for all cricket fans.