AB de Villiers is of the view that Virat Kohli made his decision to retire from Test cricket based on his own instincts. Kohli announced his retirement in May, just ahead of the announcement of the squad for the England tour. The Indian cricketer featured in 123 Test matches throughout his career, amassing 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.

At an NGO event in Mumbai, De Villiers shared his thoughts on Kohli’s immense impact on the sport, praising his contributions. He emphasised that Kohli’s continued presence on the field is a privilege for fans, but his absence from Test cricket will certainly be felt. Nonetheless, he highlighted that Kohli’s legacy in red-ball cricket remains strong.

“He followed his instincts. He’s contributed immensely to cricket globally over the years. Fortunately, we’ll still see him on the field. While he’ll be missed in Test matches, his legacy in the red-ball cricket is undeniable,” AB de Villiers said.

De Villiers further mentioned that the moment has arrived for the younger cricketers to take on responsibility. He acknowledged the role the IPL has played in developing a deep pool of talent in India. He mentioned that the young Indian team will need to take on extra responsibility when they face the challenges of playing in England. Still, he expressed confidence that, with the right belief, they have the potential to achieve something truly remarkable.

“Now, it’s time for the younger generation to step up. Shubman Gill is already embracing that responsibility. India have so much talent, and the IPL deserves a lot of credit for that. It gives young players incredible exposure early on. We saw Vaibhav Suryavanshi this year, and there are many others. They come in their first year looking mature and ready to play. The IPL has become an excellent platform for Indian cricket,” he added.

“They’ll have to shoulder some responsibility in England, where it’ll be a tough challenge, but they have all the talent they need. If they believe in themselves, they could achieve something extraordinary,” he concluded.