On Saturday, ex-South Africa captain AB de Villiers shared that he reached out to Virat Kohli following Kohli’s decision to opt out of the initial two Tests in the ongoing 5-match series against England. De Villiers reassured his fans that Kohli is in good health and is currently enjoying quality time with his family. Additionally, de Villiers mentioned that Kohli and Anushka Sharma are anticipating the arrival of their second child.
AB de Villiers commended Virat Kohli’s decision, emphasizing that prioritizing family is crucial. The former South African captain expressed understanding, stating that it is inappropriate to criticize the superstar cricketer for opting to take a break and spend time with his loved ones during this significant phase of his life.
Virat Kohli made the decision to withdraw from the initial two Tests against England, citing personal reasons. In a comprehensive statement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appealed to fans and media to refrain from speculating on the reasons behind Kohli’s choice. The BCCI clarified that Kohli had a discussion with captain Rohit Sharma and the team management before opting out of the first two matches of the highly anticipated Test series.
AB De Villiers said, “Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma expecting their 2nd child, so Virat is spending time with his family”. (AB YT). pic.twitter.com/ceW5jrhIeL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 3, 2024
In his YouTube show on Saturday, AB de Villiers shared, “All I know is he is in good health. He is taking some time off to be with his family, and that’s why he won’t be playing in the first two Test matches. I won’t provide any further details. I’m just looking forward to his return. He is well and doing fine.”
AB de Villiers shared details about his text message exchange with Virat Kohli, saying, “Let me just see what he said. I just want to at least give you a little bit of love.” He continued, “So I wrote to him, ‘Been wanting to check in with you for a while now, biscuits. How are you?’. He responded, ‘Just need to be with my family right now. I am doing well.’ Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it’s family time, and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people’s priority is family. You can’t judge Virat for that.”
