AB de Villiers, a former South African and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter, has characterised Virat Kohli’s current batting form as “pretty much unstoppable.” He attributes Kohli’s increased threat to his relaxed and instinct-driven approach.

Kohli’s performance has been validated by his on-field accomplishments. He scored his 55th ODI hundred on September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, when he scored 139 not out off 88 deliveries in the first ODI against West Indies. He achieved this milestone in just 74 balls. Kohli became the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to surpass 15,000 ODI runs in the same innings. India secured a victory by eight wickets by chasing down 296.

De Villiers compared Kohli’s current batting style to his celebrated 2016 version, contending that the current form is actually superior due to Kohli’s apparent calmness and comfort at the crease. He observed that Kohli appears to have relinquished the intensity and overthinking that occasionally hindered him and is now relying more on instinct, which has been honed over a lifetime of playing the game.

What distinguishes Kohli’s present form in the opinion of AB de Villiers?

AB de Villiers initially observed Kohli’s transition to a distinct role during the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, which marked the beginning of this transformation. He observed that Kohli briefly reverted to his previous habits before ultimately dropping them entirely. De Villiers also discussed an aspect of Kohli that he believes the public is now more aware of, one that is centred on those around him rather than on himself.

AB de Villiers also observed that Kohli, who has retired from Test cricket and T20Is, appears to be cognisant of the opportunities he has left to contribute at the highest level.

Why does de Villiers maintain that Kohli’s instincts render him exceedingly difficult to subdue?

AB de Villiers elucidated that Kohli’s current batting style is distinguished from his earlier phases of his career by a combination of gut feel and freedom. He contended that Kohli is exceedingly difficult to manage when he is not overthinking and is relying on his instinctual understanding of the game.

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Additionally, he reflected on the lessons that younger players in the dressing room can learn from Kohli in this state, and he explicitly connected this mindset to the potential implications for India at the 2027 World Cup.

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