Former South African captain AB de Villiers has admitted his Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is a more reliable batsman than him. Kohli and AB share a great bonhomie with each other as they have been playing together since 2011 for RCB in the IPL. Both the batsmen have shared some great partnerships in the IPL and AB added that they make a great combination.
Meanwhile, de Villiers also spoke about the differences between his methods and Kohli’s. AB opined that he likes to hit the ground running and he has the skills to turn the match upside down in a matter of overs. AB is more attacking in his approach and he likes to take on the bowlers from the get-go.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli likes to take his time before taking the attack on the opposition. Kohli plays conventional cricketing shots and he hardly hits the ball in the air.
AB has an impressive strike rate of 151.24 in the IPL and he is known for his pyrotechnics. On the other side, Kohli is known to bat right throughout the innings.
“We take on different bowlers. I personally like to attack a little earlier, not to show weakness early on. I am earlier to the trigger. I want the bowlers to feel early on that it will be trouble if I’m allowed to bat for 5 overs,” De Villiers told Harsha Bhogle on a Cricbuzz in Conversation episode on Wednesday.
“Virat is a more reliable batsman. He’s the one you want to bat for 15 overs. I am better in a way I could change the game quicker, have an injection that could swing the game. So together we are a nice combo,” he said.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers make a great combination and they are the only pair to have two double century stands in T20 format. The duo also have nine 100+ stands in the IPL while playing for RCB.
Thus, both of them enjoy batting together and both of them are also quick runners between the wickets. Both the batsmen have been instrumental in the success of Royal Challengers Bangalore and they are the pillars of the franchise’s batting order.
AB de Villiers also added that Virat Kohli belongs to the category of great batsmen and he is an expert in getting the team out of the woods.
