De Villiers Supports Kohli, Recommends Mental Reset for Comeback

It is well known that Indian cricket star Virat Kohli faced a disappointing run during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. Across the five Tests of the series, Kohli scored only 190 runs in nine innings. Except for a century in the Perth Test, he failed to deliver a significant performance throughout the series.

A notable issue during the series was Kohli’s frequent dismissals while attempting to play deliveries outside the off-stump, exposing a familiar weakness. This poor form led to increased criticism from former players. Some even went as far as suggesting that Kohli should consider retirement.

In this context, former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers came out in support of Kohli, offering crucial advice through social media. De Villiers urged Kohli to follow a "reset formula" and forget the setbacks of the Australia tour.

“I believe resetting the mind every time is a very good thing. Virat loves to fight, but when certain things are beyond our control, it’s best to let go of them. As a batter, reset everything, focus on each ball, and forget about the bowler,” said de Villiers in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He further added, “Sometimes, Virat makes errors due to his natural fighting spirit and his deep desire to help his team win. He has shown the entire country that he is always ready to battle for the team. His skill, experience, and greatness are never in doubt. It’s all about regaining focus after each ball.”

De Villiers acknowledged that Kohli’s recent struggles were partly due to his weaknesses being exploited but emphasized that overcoming such setbacks and resetting the mind quickly is crucial. He remarked, “Every batter in the world has some weakness. What matters is how quickly one can reset and move forward. I am confident that Virat can overcome his issues and get back into form.”