Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers and Indian cricketer Virat Kohli share a deep and enduring bond that goes beyond cricket. Their friendship, forged during years together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is built on mutual respect, admiration and shared values.
From emotional celebrations to moments of personal support, their relationship has remained strong through highs and lows. Though their camaraderie stands as one of the most cherished friendships of modern cricket, there was a small period when they both were not on talking terms or rather we should say that Virat Kohli was avoiding his friend ABD.
AB de Villiers recently opened up about a brief fallout with Virat Kohli, revealing that their friendship hit a rough patch after he accidentally disclosed a closely guarded secret. During a YouTube show in February last year, AB de Villiers had casually revealed that Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were expecting their second child, news that had been intentionally kept private by the couple.
This revelation didn’t sit well with Virat Kohli, who, according to AB de Villiers, did not speak to him for several months afterward. Reflecting on the incident in an interview, AB de Villiers acknowledged the misstep and expressed relief that their communication eventually resumed. He said that although they had discussed the matter earlier in private, he regretted mentioning it publicly and was thankful when Virat Kohli reached out again after a period of silence.
The South African legend shared that once the two were back in touch, Virat Kohli began opening up about his personal challenges and sought advice on navigating tough phases, something AB de Villiers was happy to help with. Despite the tension, his support for Virat Kohli remained unwavering. He emphasised his admiration for Virat Kohli’s career and hoped that the Indian star continues to enjoy playing, especially in One Day Internationals.
Their bond was publicly reaffirmed after Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched the IPL 2025 title. In a heartwarming gesture, Virat Kohli brought AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle to the forefront of the celebrations in Ahmedabad, acknowledging their immense contributions to the franchise and their enduring friendship.
