Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers share one of the most celebrated friendships in international cricket. From memorable partnerships on the field to heartwarming moments off it, the camaraderie between the two has long been admired by fans.
However, even the strongest of friendships can go through rough patches, as revealed recently when AB de Villiers admitted to a period of silence from Kohli after an unintentional slip-up during a live session, which inadvertently revealed the news of Anushka Sharma’s second pregnancy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Before Anushka and Kohli had made any official announcement of their second child, de Villiers had unknowingly made the news public
At the time of Anushka’s second pregnancy, Kohli had taken a short break from cricket, citing personal reasons. AB de Villiers, trying to rationalize his absence, inadvertently revealed that Kohli was spending time with Anushka, who was expecting again.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a recent conversation on his YouTube channel, de Villiers called the moment a “blunder,” expressing regret over revealing something so personal without permission. He said,
“I made a terrible mistake. Virat is a very private person, especially when it comes to family. I had no right to reveal that. It wasn’t my place”
View this post on Instagram
De Villiers also shared that six months ago, they reconnected and started talking again. He, in the same interview, said that they are now in the same boat as they talked about the things that happened. AB de Villiers stated,
Advertisment
“I know we were in the same boat because we spoke about it. He’s been in touch with me over the last six months. Thank goodness, because I did have a bit of a footfall not so long ago when they were expecting their second child (De Villiers had publicly announced it before Kohli). So I was very relieved when he started talking to me again.”
AB de Villiers opened up about how Virat Kohli reacted to his mistake
The South African cricketer revealed that the fallout after the mishap was immediate but silent. AB shared,
ADVERTISEMENT
“We didn’t speak for a few months. I could sense he was hurt”
He added that it was during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in early 2024 that Kohli finally reached out and resumed their communication. He said,
“I was so relieved. He started speaking to me again, and things slowly returned to normal”
The South African cricketer emphasized how important their bond is, describing Kohli as more than a friend—”He’s like a brother.” Over the years, their time together at Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL forged a friendship rooted in mutual respect, competitiveness, and deep emotional support. Their famous hugs after match-winning innings and public admiration for one another have made headlines time and again.
AB de Villiers revealed how Virat talked about his retirement from Test cricket after their reconciliation
In the same interview, AB de Villiers shared that Virat reached out to him as he wanted some ideas about how to deal with certain difficult patches of life. Virat and Villiers talked about the same, and the latter bared his heart. He remarked that he feels proud to see Virat playing cricket even after everything.
He also shared that Virat’s decision to retire from the test might also have come from his heart. Villiers backs Kohli to the fullest, for the way the latter puts his dedication to play cricket until the very last ball. Villiers said,
“Lots of things weigh in on you. And I shared with him from the heart what I felt and what I think, what I’m seeing from the side, watching him on the screen. So very happy that he’s still around playing cricket. And the decision to not play Test cricket would have come from the heart. And I support him 100% with that. He’s had a wonderful career, and I want him to enjoy his cricket until the very last ball. And if that is the way forward for him, then great, I’m right behind him. Hopefully, a lot more white-ball cricket for him left.”
Kohli, known for being fiercely protective of his personal life, had chosen to keep Anushka’s second pregnancy private. The couple later revealed the birth of their son, Akaay, in February 2024 through an Instagram post, requesting privacy during that intimate time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite the brief period of cold silence, the episode appears to have strengthened their friendship as AB reached out to him for advice, showing that the trust and bond between them still run deep.
This incident stands as a reminder that even between close friends, privacy matters, and that true friendship, when tested, can emerge stronger than before.
What are your thoughts about this matter? Let us know in the comments.
