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India`s talisman batter Virat Kohli praised AB de Villiers as the `absolute number one` on Wednesday, following the Proteas legend`s induction into the ICC Hall of Fame. The Class of 2024 also includes Sir Alastair Cook and Indian icon Neetu David alongside De Villiers.
Kohli and De Villiers have enjoyed a close friendship both on and off the field for many years. In a heartfelt gesture, Kohli congratulated “Mr. 360” on his induction through an open letter. It has become a tradition for close associates of inductees to express their sentiments in open letters during these moments of recognition.
“It is an honour to be selected to write these words as you enter the ICC Hall of Fame. You are thoroughly deserving of your place – after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique. People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one. But what truly stood out to me was your belief in that ability. You had a crazy amount of belief that you could execute whatever you wanted to on a cricket field, and you normally did. That is why you ended up being so special. There is no better example in my mind than when we were batting together for RBC in Kolkata in 2016,” Kohli wrote in letter.
Also Read: Neetu David becomes second Indian woman to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
“We were chasing 184 against an attack including Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan. You came in to join me with around 70 on the board and Narine was bowling. You played and missed a couple and told me during a timeout that you weren’t picking him too well. I felt I was, so I remember telling you to give me the strike and I would try and hit boundaries off him. In the first over Narine bowled after the timeout, I was ready at the non-striker’s end thinking you were definitely giving me a single. So, imagine my surprise when you back away to the leg side, Sunil follows you and you slog sweep him over square leg for a 94-metre six!”
Virat Kohli`s letter to AB De Villiers congratulating him on being inducted into ICC Hall of Fame. 🤯❤️ pic.twitter.com/fFK5edfmKw
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2024
“I don’t know what happened in the timeout to give you the belief you could do that. I just remember saying to you, “you’re a freak!” If I have a lack of belief against someone, I’d just try and get off strike – but you hit him for a 94-metre six without picking the ball. That sums you up. You could just do things our minds were not ready to process, and then everyone thinks ‘how the hell did that happen?’. That is just one of so many fond memories I have batting alongside you, times which provided some of the most fun I have had on a cricket field. You are in the Hall of Fame for the impact you have left on the game and I don’t think there is anything more special for a cricketer than to have that honour. Congratulations, biscotti. You are one of the greatest players to ever play the game.”
More updates to follow…
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