South Africa great AB de Villiers said that players like Virat Kohli should be celebrated for changing the game and expressed hope that the player would continue for another five years.
“I want to remind you guys, that’s the kind of player you want to celebrate,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “Allow him to find his balance in life towards the back end of his career. Just celebrate him. He has changed the game forever. He deserves a bit of a ‘thank you’, and hopefully you play for another five years. If you don’t, we are right behind you.”
There had been much discussion before India’s recent ODI series against Australia about whether Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be the obvious choices for India in the 2027 World Cup. Returning to the international arena after the Champions Trophy, Kohli registered two consecutive ducks in the first two matches against Australia. In the dead rubber ODI, he struck an unbeaten 74 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to help India win the inconsequential game.
Having seen Kohli from close quarters, De Villiers feels that Kohli might retire from international cricket after the 2027 World Cup, though he could continue to play in the IPL.
“In my opinion, the 2027 World Cup will be his final go at the cherry on the cake – a finish to his career. The IPL is a different story. We might see him go for three or four, or maybe even five years. It does not take a lot out of you, even though it is a very intense tournament. You can prepare for those two to three months, but a World Cup is a four-year cycle. It’s a really big build-up and takes a lot out of the body, the system, and the space you try to find yourself in – including family time. We have often heard Virat speak about how important that is for him.”
Kohli is likely to be seen in action when India take on South Africa in the three-match ODI series starting on November 30.
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