In a surprising turn of events, AB de Villiers, the former captain of South Africa, retracted his earlier statement regarding Virat Kohli's personal life, admitting he had made an error. Previously, de Villiers had stirred the cricket world by suggesting that Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, were expecting their second child, which led to Kohli's absence from the first two Tests against England for personal reasons. The cricket community has been abuzz with speculation about Kohli's potential return for the remaining matches in the series, but clarity remains elusive.
During a live session on his YouTube channel earlier, de Villiers had disclosed his communication with Kohli, emphasizing that the Indian cricket star was prioritizing family time. "All I know is he is fine. He is spending a bit of time with his family, that is the reason he is missing the first two Test matches. I am not going to confirm anything else. I cannot wait to see him back. He is fine, he is happy," de Villiers shared, indicating his eagerness for Kohli's return to the cricket field.
"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. Yes, we miss him, but he has made the right decision," de Villiers had said.
Despite his initial claim about Kohli expecting a second child, de Villiers now says it was inaccurate. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, he stated, "Family comes first and then Cricket. I had made a big mistake on my YouTube channel. That information was wrong and not true at all. I think whatever's best for Virat's family comes first. No one knows what's happening there, all I can do is wish him well. Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he can come back stronger, better and fresh from this."
This candid admission from de Villiers underscores the significance of family for Kohli and the importance of privacy in such matters. De Villiers expressed his best wishes for Kohli, hoping for his strong and rejuvenated return to cricket, regardless of the reasons behind his hiatus.
As the cricketing world awaits the announcement of India's squad for the upcoming third Test in Rajkot, speculation about Kohli's participation continues, with reports suggesting he may miss the next two Tests.