Virat Kohli is more natural, like the Roger Federer of cricket: AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli or Steve Smith? It’s a quintessential question to any cricketer during an interview. However, South Africa legend AB de Villiers has managed to answer this query in his own unique style. ABD, who has been sharing the dressing room with Virat Kohli for nine years at Royal Challengers Bangalore, thinks that the India and RCB captain is like Roger Federer while Steve Smith is the Rafael Nadal of cricket.

ABD, who appeared on Instagram live with former Zimbabwe pacer Pommie Mbangwa feels that Kohli’s natural talent and ball-striking ability makes him Federer-like while Smith’s mental toughness is like Nadal.

"It's a difficult one, but Virat is definitely the more natural ball-striker, there's no doubt about that. In tennis terms, I'd say he's more like a (Roger) Federer whereas Smith is like a (Rafael) Nadal. Smith is mentally very strong and figures out a way of scoring runs - he doesn't look natural, but he ends up writing records and doing amazing things at the crease."

"I think mentally, Smith is one of the best I have ever seen. Virat has also scored runs all over the world and won games under pressure," added the swashbuckler during his interaction on “Sports Hurricane.”

AB de Villiers, whose heroics for RCB, have earned him fans across India, considers former India great Sachin Tendulkar as a role model. But the South African thinks that when it comes to chasing Kohli is ahead of Sachin.

“Sachin is a role model for both of us (him and Kohli). The way he stood out in his era, the things he achieved, and with the grace he did all that, is a great example for everyone. And I think Virat will also say that he set the standards for us to follow.”

"But personally, in a chase, I'd say Virat is the best I've seen in my life. Sachin was amazing in all formats and all situations, but Virat comes out on top while chasing."

The camaraderie between ABD and Virat Kohli has been for the world to see and ABD thinks that Virat Kohli is more than just a great cricketer. Having rubbed shoulders for years with Kohli, ABD revealed that the duo discusses on variety of subjects and not just cricket. 

"He's much deeper than just a cricket player...I think most people realize after a while that there's more to life than just cricket. Virat's always been a thinker, he experiments (with) a lot of things, he loves trying new things out - gym wise, what he puts in his mouth. He thinks a lot about life after life - what's to come, the different religions, we talk about everything."

Talking about the IPL, ABD said that it’s the friendship and not just the tournament that he cherishes. “Obviously, when it comes to the IPL in India, it's been more than friendship," de Villiers said, when asked who his best friends in cricket are.

And who is his best friend in cricket? "Virat obviously - not only during the IPL, we chat throughout the year, which means it's different than just the IPL or cricketing friendship,” he signed off.