Virat Kohli praises AB de Villiers' versatility as a batsman

De Villiers, regarded as the most destructive batsman, occupied the crease for nearly six hours on the final day of 4th Test.

Mumbai: Praising AB de Villiers for his 'versatility' as a batsman, India Test captain Virat Kohli on Friday said the South African maestro's defiant knock, albeit in a losing cause, in the final cricket match in Delhi was a classic example of 'application' in the longer format.

De Villiers, who has destroyed world class bowling line ups with his audacious shots, denied himself the luxury of attacking batsmanship to occupy the crease for nearly six hours on the final day and scored 43 as South Africa tried desperately to avoid defeat on the concluding day.

However, his efforts went in vain, as Indian off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin eventually got him out on the 297th ball and then the Kohli-led hosts sliced through the lower order batsmen to win the Test by 337 runs and the series 3-0.

"I have grown to be a big admirer of AB and his ability over the past few years and knowing him from a close distance. Generally in international cricket you tend to recognise players who are going through a great phase and this has happened with AB in the last three-four years and before that he was getting there," said Kohli here today.

"But what he has done in last three-four years, its absolutely unbelievable and it's a classic case of someone realising his strengths and taking it to every format of the game," said the star batsman, who has played with de Villiers for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

"What he (AB) did in Delhi, I did not did not think he would do. Honestly, although he has done it in the past, but to do that when you are 2-0 down in a series and to have a mental strength to actually go out there and play 300-odd balls for 40-odd runs (was amazing) for a guy who is all about instinct," said Kohli.

"It showed the versatility he has in his game and its a learning for every cricketer around in the world nowadays, who thinks that application is not required in Test cricket.

"And he showed a classic case of application and the respect for a particular cricketer grows in your mind and that's exactly happened as respect for him grew in everyone's mind", the right-handed Delhi batsman added.