AB de Villiers, the former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legend, has commented on Virat Kohli’s batting in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season. According to de Villiers, Kohli has appeared more relaxed and happy this season after relinquishing his captaincy roles with RCB and the Indian national team. Kohli scored an unbeaten 82 in the opening match of the season, leading RCB to an eight-wicket victory against the Mumbai Indians.
De Villiers noted that he has not seen much change in Kohli’s technique and that he still looks solid with good balance at the crease. However, he has observed Kohli laughing more than ever in recent interviews, indicating that he is enjoying himself more this season. De Villiers believes that giving up the captaincy last season played a significant role in Kohli’s relaxation. Although he was a fantastic captain, he held the position for a long time, both internationally and in the IPL, which can be overwhelming. De Villiers thinks that Kohli’s mantra for this season is to go out and have fun, keep smiling, and let his natural talent take over.
De Villiers also commented on India and Mumbai Indians’ batter Suryakumar Yadav, who has experienced a dip in form. He advised Yadav to focus on what has worked for him in the past and not to panic or change his game plan. De Villiers suggested that Yadav try to remember his basics and what he did well when he was consistently scoring runs. According to de Villiers, it is not a bad thing to come down a level and spend some time before popping out again. He emphasized the importance of managing the gears between the first and fifth gear and respecting where one is at the moment.
De Villiers believes that Kohli’s best is yet to come, and RCB fans can expect to see some fireworks this season.
