Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has lavished praise on former South African captain AB de Villiers, calling him the most talented cricketer he has ever played with. Kohli’s heartfelt message comes after de Villiers was inducted into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame, alongside England's Alastair Cook and Indian women's cricket icon Neetu David as part of the class of 2024.

AB de Villiers, affectionately known as "Mr. 360" for his incredible range of shots and creative batting style, made his international debut in 2004. Over a remarkable career, he scored over 20,000 runs across all formats, setting numerous records along the way. His highest Test score was an unbeaten 278 against Pakistan in 2010, and he tied the record for most dismissals in a Test match by a wicketkeeper, with 11 catches against Pakistan in 2013.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in men's ODI cricket, a testament to his explosive batting. He also boasts multiple ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year awards and averages over 50 in both Tests and ODIs, with a strike rate exceeding 135 in T20 Internationals (T20Is).

Virat Kohli, who shared a fruitful partnership with de Villiers during their time at Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL), expressed his deep admiration for his former teammate. Kohli, in a message shared by the ICC, called de Villiers the "most talented cricketer" he has ever played with, highlighting the South African legend’s lasting impact on the game

"You are thoroughly deserving of your place – after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique," Kohli wrote. "People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one."

Kohli further praised de Villiers for his consistency and dedication to upholding the values of the game, noting that his influence extended far beyond his impressive statistics.

"A lot of players can have impressive numbers, but very few have an impact on the psyche of those watching. For me, that is the highest value you can have as a cricketer, and that is what makes you so special,"Kohli added.