IPL 2022 | Virat Kohli recalls emotional moment about AB de Villiers’ retirement

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers shared the same dressing room at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for 11 years in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until last year, when the South African decided to bid adieu. Kohli, the former RCB captain, spoke about how much of an influence de Villiers had on him.

When asked about how he feels without De Villiers around, Kohli said that he recieved a vvoice note from De Villiers informing his decision.

“The first thing she said was, don’t tell me. She knew. I kind of had the impression during the last IPL. He kept telling me, our rooms were next to each other. I want to see you for coffee one of these days. I kept getting nervous, I was like I am not sitting with you, I think there’s something coming."

“He said ‘I just want to sit and chat with you, it’s been a while.’ And he never speaks like that, you know, because we interact all the time. I knew something was brewing up. It’s a very strange feeling, I got very emotional, the voice note was very emotional as well for me when he said I don’t have it in me anymore."

“I have shared so many moments with him, highs and lows, everything, he’s been right next to me through thick and thin. I was thinking about him the other day that if we manage to win the title in the coming seasons, this one, next one, whatever it is. I would be very emotional thinking about him first, rather than you know what I would experience after such hard work of so many years," he revealed.

“I would actually think how much it would still mean to him, watching from home. He’s a special human being, he’s touched everyone’s lives here, we can all vouch for that, he’s been amazing. I don’t think there’s one person who can say AB has not contributed to my life some way or the other."