AB de Villiers Opens Up About His First Impression of Virat Kohli
There is no denying that Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have a solid friendship. They became close friends while playing for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Their bond has grown closer over the years, and AB de Villiers has repeatedly praised Kohli’s abilities, demeanor, and game.
However, the former South African captain has said that his initial impression of Kohli was very different. AB de Villiers stated that he initially thought the former Indian captain was ‘arrogant and cocky’.
AB de Villiers discusses his first impression of Virat Kohli.
In a podcast with Prakhar Gupta, AB de Villiers was asked if he thought Kohli was arrogant and cocky when they first met.
The former South African batter agreed with the idea, claiming Kohli would likely embrace that assessment of his younger self.
“He just has a tremendous level of confidence and has always played cricket that way. It is sometimes misconstrued. This was also true in my circumstance. “He came across as overconfident,” AB de Villiers observed.
He then explained that Virat Kohli’s confidence was the primary cause for his first impression. De Villiers believes the Indian batter’s confidence in his ability can be misinterpreted as arrogance. I often say that with a laugh, but I believe he will agree. At 19, 20, and 21, he was a self-assured young man. That is also what is required to achieve big success. You have to believe in your own abilities, and you just learn to manage them over time,” he continued.
AB de Villiers also stated that Virat Kohli’s behavior altered as he gained experience and matured. He believes the Indian star had a lot to prove in the early phases of his career, making him appear overconfident.
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“That faded away as he grew older and as he became more balanced as a person and as a cricket player,” AB de Villiers told reporters.
The South African great also explained how Virat Kohli eventually felt more at ease with himself and those around him.
