AB de Villiers has revealed that Virat Kohli did not speak to him for months after the South African great made a public blunder in early 2024 about the Indian star’s personal life. Kohli eventually resumed contact later that year, much to de Villiers’ relief.Speaking to Cricket.com, de Villiers said he was relieved to be back on speaking terms with Kohli. “Thank goodness! Because I did have a bit of a footfall not too long ago when they were expecting their second child. So, I was very relieved when he started talking to me again,” he said.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The incident dates back to early 2024, when Kohli had withdrawn from the home Test series against England, citing personal reasons. While speculation mounted, de Villiers claimed on his YouTube channel that Kohli had taken the break because his wife, Anushka Sharma, was expecting their second child. Days later, he issued a public apology, calling it “a terrible mistake.”
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“Family comes first and then Cricket… That information was wrong and not true at all,” de Villiers had said in a separate interview with Dainik Bhaskar. “Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he comes back stronger.”While the claim turned out to be accurate — the couple welcomed their son Akaay on February 15 — the premature disclosure strained their friendship.
Reflecting on Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, de Villiers added, “He went through a bit of a patch and wanted to bounce some ideas off me… I’m happy he is still around playing cricket. That decision comes from the heart, and I support him 100 per cent.”The pair’s friendship, forged at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has long been one of the most admired in cricket.
