AB de Villiers says current Kohli is better than 2016 version
AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli's current batting is superior to his 2016 peak.
AB de Villiers has said Virat Kohli's current form is a better version than his widely regarded peak between 2015 and 2019. The South Africa great cited Kohli's relaxed approach and freedom at the crease as reasons for the assessment. De Villiers said Kohli had shown signs of this mindset during the 2025 Champions Trophy before fully embracing it again.
Kohli has scored 552 ODI runs in 2026 at an average of 69 and has already struck two centuries. He reached 15,000 ODI runs and his 55th ODI century during the recent series against the West Indies.
CricHubb Take
If de Villiers is correct, Kohli's late-career window could extend further than most expected, altering India's planning for the 2027 World Cup.