Virat Kohli’s recent ODI performances have drawn admiration from cricket figures across the globe. On September 27, 2026, Kohli scored 139 not out off 88 balls at Thiruvananthapuram, striking 10 fours and 9 sixes as India successfully chased 296 in 41.4 overs to win by 8 wickets. The knock represented Kohli’s 55th ODI century and featured nine sixes, the most he has ever struck in a single ODI innings. This aggressive display has intensified focus on Kohli’s form and his importance to India’s World Cup plans.
Former South African batter AB de Villiers has expressed genuine delight at witnessing Kohli’s resurgence in the 50-over format. De Villiers, reflecting on Kohli’s trajectory and mindset, highlighted the positive shift in the Indian batter’s approach heading into the 2027 World Cup.
“I have been following his progress with a lot of interest and it makes me very happy to see the way he’s performing, especially keeping in mind that the 2027 World Cup is just around the corner. And what stands out to me is the aggressive nature of his approach these days. It’s fantastic to see him using all his experience and realizing to be positive and getting into good positions actually brings out the best in him,” Villiers was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Kohli’s career peaks and current dominance
De Villiers contextualised his former RCB teammate’s current form within the batter’s career trajectory, identifying distinct phases of excellence. The South African legend noted that Kohli‘s aggressive mindset and willingness to take calculated risks have elevated his game significantly. Kohli’s recent milestone further underscores his dominance in ODI cricket. He became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in 303 innings compared to Tendulkar’s 377 innings.
“It’s an incredible run of form. We’ve seen this kind of form in 2012 to 2014 and then again 2016 to 2019 and now this is a third peak for him really taking his game to the next level. And we’ve often heard him speak about sort of taking his game to the next level, thinking about the game a little bit differently. And you can see that in that positive and that aggressive approach he’s taking on. So, it makes me very happy to see him perform like he is,” Villiers said.
South Africa’s World Cup prospects
De Villiers also shared his perspective on the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted in South Africa for the first time in over two decades. The former Proteas captain expressed optimism about the tournament and South Africa’s prospects, drawing on recent team performances. South Africa has won six consecutive ODI series against Australia, demonstrating the strength of the current squad.
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“I think that the cricket is going to be magnificent, as it was in 2003 and hopefully the Proteas will perform better this time than back then. From a performance point of view, it doesn’t bring back great memories. But the team really looks strong now. Most of the players are still relatively unknown globally, but I know they have a lot of chemistry,” Villiers said.
“There’s a great (team) culture. There’s lots of individuals who can win your games of cricket. And we showcased it now against Australia, winning a sixth consecutive ODI series win against the Aussies. So, really looking good for the guys and once the World Cup starts, there will be a lot of hype, a lot of attention from the media and the public,” he concluded.
