Cricket enthusiasts were left shocked in recent times when AB de Villiers, arguably one of the best batsmen of the modern era, announced his top five cricketers he’s ever played with or against and Virat Kohli was not included.
The erstwhile South African legend made the announcements while having a conversation on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, which set off instant arguments and discussions on social media platforms.
AB de Villiers’ Top 5 Choices: Legends Only
Following is the list de Villiers announced:
- Jacques Kallis
- Andrew Flintoff
- Shane Warne
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Mohammad Asif
Talking about Sachin Tendulkar, de Villiers remembered how massive an aura the Indian great possessed.
“Textbook runs from both sides of the wicket. Clean hitting, and when he got out, it was always like he’d been taken out by a surgeon,” de Villiers said.
Talking about Kallis, de Villiers was candid:
Probably the greatest all-rounder… perhaps even the greatest cricketer ever,” he claimed, highlighting Kallis’ unparalleled adaptability.
He lauded Mohammad Asif as the most talented seamer he ever had the pleasure of facing, had great respect for Warne’s charm and power, and recalled Flintoff’s unforgettable demolition ball yorker to Kallis at Edgbaston, which reflected his big-game mentality.
And What About Virat Kohli?
It wasn’t long before Adil Rashid, who was also on the podcast, questioned de Villiers why his long-time Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate and close friend Virat Kohli wasn’t included.
Realising the error, de Villiers quickly replied:
“Virat, sorry. That’s why such questions are so tough to answer.”
The exchange came across as sincere, but the internet had already taken notice – leading to a new wave of Kohli vs. others debates online.
Still Smashing It: AB de Villiers in Legends League
Even in retirement, AB is still wow-ing with the willow. In the World Championship of Legends 2025, he was in his vintage style, guiding South Africa to the championship.
In the Pakistan final, de Villiers smashed a stunning 120 off only 60 balls, as South Africa chased 196 in just 16.5 overs.
He finished the tournament with 429 runs in six innings with three centuries and was awarded the Player of the Tournament – a reminder that in terms of pure batting brilliance, AB still possesses it.
A True Entertainer
Whether he’s spinning tales on a podcast or illuminating a stadium in a Legends League decider, AB de Villiers is one of the game’s most compelling characters. Although his omission of Kohli was probably an innocent error, it was definitely a red rag to the bull in the cricket world and created one more iconic AB moment.
