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Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers: A cricket lover’s treat

Kohli is the emblem of orthodox cricket, de Villiers has created his own array of modernised shots.

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Kohli is the emblem of orthodox cricket; de Villiers has created his own array of modernised cricketing strokes © Twitter (Jasveer Singh Kharra)
Kohli is the emblem of orthodox cricket; de Villiers has created his own array of modernised cricketing strokes © Twitter (Jasveer Singh Kharra)

A team’s result depends upon the performance of all its members, but there always happens to be one name; a name, who, with all his prowess and finesse, steals away the limelight. He becomes the x-factor of the team, the headline-maker, the demigod that everyone starts worshiping.  India and South Africa, as stereotypes might write the giants of cricket, have two such players. While it is Virat Kohli for the subcontinent, Abraham Benjamin de Villiers fills in the spot in the Protea’s squad. And when they meet, it has to be a treat for the eyes of a cricket fanatic. READ: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan: Three different styles, each one compelling

There has been much debate upon the cricketing values of Indian Premier League (IPL). While some criticise, some stand up for it and say it has given to cricket as well. Any event in this universe happens to have equal probabilities of both situations, statistics and theory of probability says. Likewise, IPL has its negatives and positives too. Besides having the black chapters, it has contributed in many ways. It has been a hub of budding cricketers, a platform for testing their abilities as they compete with the world-bests in high-intensity games. One of those positives has to be watching these two together.

Kohli is the emblem of orthodox cricket, whereas de Villiers has created his own array of modernised cricketing strokes. And when he opens up, there are hardly any men who can emulate him. And there are perhaps only a few that can describe the show as rich as it turns out. That is what makes the pair special.

It may sound steoreotypical, but yes, opposites pair up the best. Like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they compliment each other to complete a story — a story that goes on to become a remarkable innings every time they come out together. Rightly said by Kohli during a press conference post an IPL match, that he anchors the innings while de Villiers plays his usual game of hitting freely, and that is why they are so successful together.

Kohli, in a generation where players are striving hard to try and imitate the new and innovative shots, sticks to the traditions playing picturesque shots. His perfect backlift, steady follow-through after a cover drive, footwork, and body-balance amazes the ones who love to watch cricket the conventional way. What makes his personality more colorful on field is that he is not among the typical Indian cricketers of the past who were soft, timid and even conservative. Kohli is the modern day Indian cricket — a legend in-making who is painting the picture of an ideal Indian cricketer his own way. He is known for his aggression, tattoos and of course, his infamous vocabulary replete with expletives from North India.

A typical young talent of this generation, Kohli could easily go for the contemporary style batting but it turns out to be different, to say it precisely, unique — as it turns out every single time he achieves a feat.

AB de Villiers, on the other hand, is like Copernicus. He started playing international cricket at a stage when the world was still making up its mind to accept the change that modern day cricket was witnessing — slam-bang methods being rapidly replaced by traditional strokes that remained fodder for many for generations. They said such strokes were not possible, but de Villiers showed them how it is done. Innovation, improvisation and flexibility — de Villiers is the most perfect blend one can ever get — which has the fitness levels and acrobatic qualities close to Jonty Rhodes, along with a brain that can produce a chance of boundary or singles out of nowhere, can scan the gaps and time the ball. The cricket glossary went through innumerable changes as de Villiers contributed to the game, while some of his shots and techniques still remain unnamed.

While the cricket world struggles to describe de Villiers in the most perfect way, the only thing it has managed to determine that he is one man with the best hand-eye coordination among the present crop.

After playing together for so many seasons, both have benefited each other with whatever they knew about the game. The effect is evident, as Kohli was seen attempting reverse-sweep this IPL 9. While some may be unhappy with the player trying his hands on strokes which were not imagined earlier, at the end of the day, cricket is a game where improvisation is the way ahead.

A cricketer can never stop learning and cricket cannot stop finding areas and ways to grow, to expand.

Cricket is also something that needs immense control over nerves and emotions. While de Villiers goes all guns blazing, Kohli still tries to choose the right balls to hit. That’s the level of control that leaves the world stunned, let alone the understanding their running between wickets. Even before the fielder can think of getting himself back and throwing it to the stumps, poof! They are gone. While this quality makes them fit to be a perfect team player and partner, what establishes themselves as remarkable human beings is the fact that they keep aside their ego. The stars for their respective national sides agree, let the other play his game, pulls himself back and of all, respect each other.

Great men think alike; and when two great minds are in sync, the world seems to be better place. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers batting together for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) — is no less than a blessing to the cricket fans.

(Paulami Chakraborty, a singer, dancer, artist, and photographer, loves the madness of cricket and writes about the game. She can be followed on Twitter at @Polotwitts)

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