AB de Villiers has always shared a close bond with Virat Kohli, both on and off the field.
Now that Kohli has stepped away from Test cricket, the former South African legend opened up about how much he misses seeing his good friend in whites.
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In a touching message, de Villiers said that not only he, but the whole of India feels the absence of Kohli in the longest format.
What did AB de Villiers say about Virat Kohli’s Test retirement?
Speaking on Kohli’s exit from red-ball cricket, ABD admitted that it feels strange not seeing him in the format anymore.
He called Kohli a “big friend” and added, "We and India always miss Virat Kohli in Test Cricket. He's big friend of mine. I even miss watching him play red ball cricket but at least he's still there in white ball format and hopefully many more years to come".
The two share a long cricketing history, from facing each other in India–South Africa clashes to being teammates at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
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How big was Virat Kohli’s Test career for India?
Virat Kohli walked away from Test cricket on May 12, 2025 and closed a remarkable chapter that lasted 14 years.
He played 123 matches in the Test Cricket and scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He also smashed 30 centuries, 31 fifties and 7 double hundreds.
As captain, Kohli’s record was equally legendary. He led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them, which remains the highest number of wins by an Indian skipper.
Under his leadership, India became a force overseas, claiming famous victories in Australia and England.
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His retirement came just days after Rohit Sharma also said goodbye to the format, making it the end of an era for Indian Test cricket. The ICC itself described it as a major turning point for the sport.