Virat Kohli is presently on a hiatus from international cricket and is scheduled to make his return during the Test series against South Africa. Kohli’s decision to skip the T20Is and ODIs against South Africa might suggest a change in his career trajectory.
At 35, Kohli is a two-time ICC trophy winner, India’s most successful Test captain, and holds numerous ODI batting records. While winning another World Cup would have been a great way to end things, however, destiny had something else in store for the batting maestro.
Although he could continue playing, the big question is how much longer he plans to extend his career. By the time of the 2027 World Cup, Virat will be 39. Despite being incredibly fit, playing for another four years seems like a tough challenge, even for someone as formidable as Kohli.
AB de Villiers Made A Big Prediction About Virat Kohli
That being said, former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers provides a glimpse into what Kohli might be thinking. AB de Villiers is excited for Kohli’s impressive comeback to Test cricket. De Villiers hopes Kohli rediscovers his past form with the bat and assumes the assertive style he had as a captain. He also cautioned the Proteas to be cautious of the former Indian captain’s strong desire to score runs.
Speaking on his official YouTube Channel, AB de Villiers said: “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,”
He also talked about how Kohli and Rohit might be feeling after losing the 2023 final to Australia. De Villiers mentioned that he went through a similar situation when South Africa lost to New Zealand in the 2015 semi-final, so he can relate to their emotions. He said:
“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”
