In recent developments within the cricket fraternity, the renowned former South African cricketer, AB de Villiers, has offered a public apology to the Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma. The apology came after de Villiers made comments about the couple expecting their second child which he noted were not confirmed. The remarks that de Villiers made in a YouTube video on February 4th resonated throughout the cricket world and have since led to him retracting his statement and pleading for privacy on behalf of Kohli’s family.
AB de Villiers is well-known not just for his illustrious cricket career but also for his friendly rapport with fellow cricketer Virat Kohli. However, his recent slip-up during an online video broadcast has put him in a position to right the wrongs of misinformation. In a follow-up video leading up to the SA20 final, which took place on a Saturday, the former batter made clear his intention to set the record straight.
“My friend Virat Kohli is still not available,” de Villiers stated in his address to fans and viewers. He continued, emphasizing the importance of privacy and family, “I cry out to everyone to give him the privacy that he deserves. Family comes first. No one knows what exactly is going on. I am asking all of us to respect that. I did a bit of a blunder in my previous show and I apologize to the Kohli family for that.”
The cricket megastar was also reflective and remorseful for assuming facts about the Kohli family without their confirmation, saying, “Just not nice. I shared information that was not confirmed at all. So, I am begging everyone out there to respect him and his family and his private time. Hopefully, we will see Virat back, happy and scoring runs as he always does.”
Despite the slip, both Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have opted to remain silent on the subject, neither confirming nor denying the circulating rumors regarding Anushka’s pregnancy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also taken a stance by requesting the public and fans to refrain from speculating about the cricketer’s personal break from the sport.
Virat Kohli, a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, recently stirred the cricketing community when he withdrew from the Indian squad for the first two Test matches against England. His sudden exit from the lineup was chalked up to “personal reasons.” He took this step merely three days before the scheduled opening game in Hyderabad, leading to widespread speculation about the nature of his issues and the well-being of his family.
AB de Villiers’ public apology and the call for respect towards Kohli’s privacy underscore the delicate balance between public personas and personal lives that all celebrities face. Within the passionate world of cricket, where fans often look for continuous updates on their favorite players, it takes a moment like this to remind us all of the humanity behind the sport.
In other cricket news, roster changes are afoot for the Lucknow Super Giants as Shamar Joseph steps in to replace a star bowler for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, while the Gujarat Giants have also made a notable substitution by replacing Lauren Cheatle with a New Zealand veteran ahead of WPL 2024. Additionally, as cricket enthusiasts turn their attention to the future, all eyes are on the pitch report for Willowmoore Park as it prepares to host the U19 World Cup Final showdown between India U19 and Australia U19.
This apology made by AB de Villiers demonstrates the camaraderie that exists between players, and it also reassures fans that despite the intense scrutiny faced by sports figures, there are boundaries that should be honored when it comes to their private lives. As the global cricket community awaits Virat Kohli’s return to the cricket field, they are reminded to do so with respect and anticipation for the sportsmanship and talent he brings to the game.
