AB de Villiers believes his former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate is playing an even better brand of cricket than he did during his celebrated peak years. The former South Africa captain has been impressed by the Indian batter’s recent ODI performances and believes a change in his mindset has helped him reach another level.
Virat Kohli has enjoyed a remarkable run in ODI cricket since late 2025, scoring heavily against South Africa, New Zealand, England and West Indies. The 37-year-old has crossed 15,000 runs and reached 55 centuries in the format, prompting de Villiers to make a bold claim about the best version of the Indian batting star.
AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli has surpassed his 2016-17 peak
Kohli’s best years are often associated with the period between 2015 and 2019. His 2016 season remains particularly memorable, as he scored a staggering 973 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for RCB. He also won the ICC Cricketer of the Year award in 2017 and 2018. However, De Villiers believes Kohli’s current approach makes him an even better player than he was during that period. Speaking to India Today, the South African legend pointed to the freedom and relaxed attitude the Indian batter now displays in the middle.
“I think it is a better version (than 2016-17) because of the way he’s so relaxed. And out there in the middle, you can almost see he’s completely free,” de Villiers said.
The former RCB batter added that he first noticed signs of this change during the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE. Although Kohli briefly returned to some of his old habits, De Villiers feels he has since rediscovered the freedom that is now evident in his batting.
De Villiers opens up on Kohli’s mindset at 37
De Villiers also explained how Kohli appears to be approaching the latter stages of his career. Rather than worrying about expectations, the veteran batter seems focused on expressing his natural talent and enjoying his time on the field. The South African great also highlighted the value of having a player like Kohli around younger cricketers. He believes the Indian batter’s current mindset offers an important learning opportunity for those sharing the dressing room with him.
“He realises that all he can do is just go out there and express his talents and let the fans and the people around the world enjoy that for one last time, or for the next two years or three or five years. I don’t know how long. I love seeing this side of him. And I think it must be an incredible experience to share a dressing room with him as a youngster now. I think they are learning from him more than ever, being in this state of mind,” de Villiers explained.
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Kohli maintains outstanding numbers in ODIs in 2026
Kohli’s performances this calendar year support de Villiers’ assessment. The Indian batter has scored 552 runs in nine ODI innings in 2026 at an average of 69 and a strike rate of nearly 118. His tally includes two centuries and three half-centuries, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer in the format this year.
With India scheduled to tour New Zealand, Kohli will have another opportunity to extend his impressive run. His recent form has reinforced his status as one of the leading batters in ODI cricket, while De Villiers’ comments have added another layer to the conversation about the best phase of Kohli’s career.
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