NEW DELHI: Former South African cricket sensation
AB de Villiers
has found himself at the center of a storm after inadvertently spreading misinformation regarding the absence of Indian cricket stalwart
Virat Kohli
from the ongoing
England Test series
.
De Villiers, known for his camaraderie with Kohli both on and off the field, expressed regret over his earlier statement, acknowledging that he had shared false information about Kohli's personal life.
"Absolutely family comes first, it's a priority, as I said on my YouTube show. Also, I made a terrible mistake at the same time and yeah, sharing false information which was not true at all. No one knows what's happening. That’s all I can do is wish him well," de Villiers told Dainik Bhaskar in an exclusive interview.
Initially, de Villiers had suggested that Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, were anticipating their second child, linking Kohli's absence from the initial matches of the England series to family commitments.
However, realizing his error, de Villiers promptly retracted his previous comments, admitting to disseminating false information and extending his apologies for the confusion caused.
Despite the clarification, speculations regarding Kohli's prolonged hiatus continue to linger, with reports hinting at the possibility of his absence extending to upcoming Tests in Rajkot and Ranchi. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to provide official updates, uncertainty shrouds Kohli's status and its implications for the team.
Reflecting on the incident, de Villiers emphasized the paramount importance of family obligations while urging fans to extend their support and well-wishes to Kohli during this period of uncertainty.
What AB de Villiers said earlier:
It's confirmed! Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli expecting their second child; fans say 'Junior Kohli is coming'
English (US) ·