Kohli’s former teammate can’t help but enjoy the latest form displayed by the Indian superstar.
There isn’t much time left before the start of the 2027 World Cup. Like other teams in international cricket, India is starting to enter its final phase of preparation for the much-awaited tournament. The bilateral series with West Indies is the perfect example of the same. The three-match series between the two cricket giants has brought out their best players. Until now, the Indian team was focusing on its younger players for the less important tournaments and games with weaker teams. But for the ODI matchups, the Men in Blue have brought their strongest cannons.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are leading the squad with the perfect example of veteran experience paired with maturity during the games. They are helping Shubman Gill take the burden off his shoulders by letting him focus on captaincy and not trying to steer the Indian team alone. And in the very first match, Virat Kohli displayed the aggression that people have seldom expected out of him. So, when Kohli smashed a century to help India against the Caribbeans, AB De Villiers couldn’t help but feel excited about the possibility of a new playing style.
The legend remains the same, but the story awaits to get rewritten
Right before the bilateral series started, Virat Kohli met many hearts with his interview. Kohli suggested that the 2027 World Cup will be his last tournament in the Indian jersey. There is a strong speculation that Virat Kohli is going to retire after this last dance in the World Cup. So, when Kohli displayed a rare aggressive stance against the West Indies in the first ODI, de Villiers was very surprised.
“It's fantastic to see him bat this way, and it could not be happening at a better time, just prior to the World Cup. He's the best ODI batter of all time, arguably but in my opinion, definitely. He's showing the other side as well, where he can be the aggressor,” AB said in a recent statement according to X user Cricketmythos.
“It feels like a third peak for him as he's batting better than ever. This time around, his strike rate is up. His aggressive nature is something that really stands out.”
de Villiers’ words strike true for the Indian fans who have seen Kohli don the No. 18 jersey as the reliable middle-order batsman for the Indian batting lineup. The moment Kohli enters the crease, the Indian audience knows that he will be slow and steady until the team reaches the cusp of victory. Yet, with West Indies, he did not hesitate in going all out from the start. This new awakening for the old lion is the sign of a brighter future in the upcoming World Cup.
