AB de Villiers Appeals to Fans: "Allow Virat Kohli to Find Balance in Life"

South African legend AB de Villiers has made a heartfelt appeal to cricket fans worldwide, urging them to celebrate Virat Kohli rather than scrutinize every failure as the Indian batting icon navigates the twilight of his illustrious career. Speaking on his YouTube channel following Kohli's redemption knock of 74 not out in the third ODI against Australia, de Villiers emphasized the need for fans to let the 36-year-old find peace and balance as he approaches the end of his international journey.

"I want to remind you guys, that's the kind of player you want to celebrate. Allow him to find his balance in life towards the backend 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," de Villiers said passionately.

A Career Defined by Transformation

De Villiers' comments came after Kohli endured back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs of the Australia series—a first in his ODI career—before bouncing back with a composed, match-winning knock in Sydney alongside Rohit Sharma. The South African great, who shared many battles with Kohli both as rivals and teammates at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, reminded fans that Kohli's legacy transcends individual scores.

"He has changed the game forever," de Villiers said, reflecting on Kohli's impact on modern cricket—from his aggressive approach to chasing, his fitness revolution, and his unmatched consistency across formats.

2027 World Cup: The Final Frontier?

While acknowledging that Kohli remains active only in ODI cricket after retiring from T20Is and Tests, de Villiers predicted that the 2027 Cricket World Cup will likely be Kohli's final assignment in Indian colors. However, he expressed hope that Kohli would continue playing in the IPL for several more years.

"In my opinion, the 2027 World Cup will be his final go at the cherry—the 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 doesn't take a lot out of you, even if it's a very intense tournament. You can prepare for those two to three months. But a World Cup is a four-year cycle—a really big buildup that takes a lot out of the body, the system, and the mental space. We've heard Virat speak often about how important family time is for him," de Villiers explained.

The Intangible Impact

De Villiers also highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of Kohli's value to the Indian team: his mental and emotional influence. "He plays a huge role in that team from a mental aspect. The kind of confidence the youngsters take from his presence—you can't put a number to that. It's irreplaceable. The kind of impact he and Rohit Sharma have on the players around them is absolutely huge. Never forget that even if they don't perform sometimes, they have a huge impact."

This sentiment echoes what many current and former players have said about Kohli's presence in the dressing room—his intensity, his passion, and his ability to lift those around him, even when his own form dips.

A Plea for Perspective

De Villiers' appeal comes at a crucial time. After consecutive ducks in Perth and Adelaide, social media and cricket pundits were quick to question Kohli's place in the team and speculate about his retirement. His gesture of waving to the Adelaide crowd after his dismissal further fueled rumors, though legends like Sunil Gavaskar later clarified it was simply an acknowledgment of the crowd's standing ovation.

With Kohli now standing at 14,181 ODI runs and 51 centuries—just 53 runs short of Kumar Sangakkara's second place on the all-time ODI run-scorers list—the question is not whether he belongs but how fans and critics choose to honor his contributions.

As de Villiers eloquently put it: "Just celebrate him."