Debasis Sen, Cape Town: Cricket lovers from both India and South Africa will be eagerly waiting to see the duel between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. The addition of AB in the Proteas squad has no doubt added spice with two of the greatest batsmen of this generation locking horns.
Both AB & Virat has the ability to single handedly win matches for their teams and the forthcoming series will be no different.
De Villiers averages 50.47 after 107 Tests while Kohli averages 53.75 from 63 – both seriously impressive records.
Yet, when asked about his battle with De Villiers, Kohli was reluctant to get too carried away.
“I don’t know … it’s not like only two guys are playing in the series,” he said at a press conference at Western Province Cricket Club on Saturday.
“AB is a great friend of mine. I respect the way he plays the game and I’ve always respected him as a person as well, but when you play against each other it is not like that.
“It’s just about wanting to get AB out and I’m sure the opposition would want the same when I play or Rahane plays or Pujara plays.
“I don’t think there is any difference in terms of mindset … everyone wants to be the standout player in the series and make contributions towards the team winning. Unless you have that as a group, you don’t have many chances of winning.”
The first of three Tests gets underway in Cape Town on January 5.