Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli and South African legend Ab de Villiers are best friends. The duo played for Royal Challengers Bangalore together for more than a decade in the IPL and helped the side win many matches. During the last 13 years, the duo’s relationship has evolved from that of teammates to friends to the best of friends. On multiple occasions in the past, both Virat and De Villiers spoke very highly about each other. When Virat was going through a lean patch last year during this time, the South African was among the ones who backed him thoroughly to find the lost touch soon. But things between Virat and De Villiers were not as good as they are today from the start. In fact, when the former South African skipper met the Indian batter for the first time, he didn’t like him much and had instead found him ‘quite cocky and arrogant.’
In a conversation with former RCB opening batter Chris Gayle, a video of which was uploaded by RCB’s YouTube channel, De Villiers opened up about his first impression of Virat and said, “Oh my goodness… I have had this question before, and I have given this answer before as well. I think he was quite cocky and arrogant when I met him the first time. With that hairstyle, and he had a bit of a strut going. “
“Yes, absolutely,” replied De Villiers. “But the minute I got to know him a bit better and watched him play, I mean, I’ve got as much respect for him, but I got to know him better as a human being. I think he had a barrier around him when I met him the first time, but that barrier opened and I got to know the person. I didn’t like him, but you know what I’m saying. He’s a top person now, but my first impression was ufff. He’s got to come down to earth a bit,” he added.
De Villiers joined the RCB in 2011 and played for the franchise till 2021, after which he announced his retirement from the IPL. During his playing days, De Villiers played many game-changing knocks for RCB, and together with Virat, he holds the record for the highest partnership in IPL history.
