Former South African icon AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli will be driven to help India win their first-ever Test series on South African soil, which begins December 26.
The previous game witnessed India in South Africa, having a 2-1 defeat. This was the finale as Test leader for Kohli. Regardless, De Villiers believes the accomplished hitter will be energized, hoping to achieve his series victory objective in South Africa.
AB de Villiers responded to queries regarding Virat Kohli in a video on his YouTube channel:
“We will see the best of Virat. I cannot wait to see the chest out, the eye contact with the opposition, and being a bit verbal with everyone. Because he will be fired up for this series. South Africa will need to be careful. This Indian squad is pure world-class.”
AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers reveals the mindset of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
AB de Villiers understood Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s emotions when they didn’t make the World Cup. It was so close. Moreover, he described how eager he was to participate in the ODI series verses India. It happened just months after the 2015 World Cup letdown.
De Villiers believes Kohli and Rohit would be driven to be a part of India’s first Test series victory in South Africa. He stated:
“When we had lost in the semifinal in 2015, I can’t remember it is just a blur the next few months. I just didn’t want to know cricket and wanted to just pack my kit away. What works for Virat and Rohit is that they haven’t won a Test series in South Africa. For them, this is a great opportunity. We had the opportunity to win an ODI series in India just a few months after the 2015 World Cup and I was incredibly motivated as I thought this is the opportunity to show that we were still the best team in the world.”
AB de Villiers
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will play immediately for India in the Test series after requesting break from the tour’s ODIs and T20Is.