Made A Terrible Mistake: AB de Villiers' Stunning U-Turn On Virat Kohli's Absence From Test Series

Amid uncertainty surrounding Virat Kohli's return to the team for the remaining Test matches against England, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers made a startling revelation, suggesting that the star batsman and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child. Kohli had withdrawn from the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons, leaving his participation in the remainder of the series uncertain. During a YouTube livestream, de Villiers was asked about Kohli's well-being and if they had communicated.

"All I can say is he's doing well. He's taking some time off with his family, which is why he's absent for the first two Test matches. I can't confirm anything beyond that. Looking forward to his return. He's in good spirits," shared AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel.

"Just let me check what he said. I want to share some positivity," he added.

"So I messaged him 'Been meaning to catch up with you for a while now mate. How are you?'. He replied 'Just need some family time at the moment'. Then I said I'm doing alright.

"Yes, they're expecting their second child. Family matters and Virat values that. It's crucial to remain true to yourself; otherwise, you lose sight of your purpose. Family takes precedence for most people. We miss him, but he's made the right call," he elaborated.

However, de Villiers later admitted to an error, clarifying that the news of Virat and Anushka expecting their second child was inaccurate.

"Family always comes first, then cricket. I made a significant error on my YouTube channel. That information was incorrect. Whatever is best for Virat's family is the priority. We don't know the full story there; all I can do is wish him the best. Regardless of the reason for his break, I hope he returns stronger, rejuvenated from this," De Villiers told Dainik Bhaskar.

India is yet to announce their squad for the third Test, scheduled to begin in Rajkot on February 15. Speculation suggests Kohli might miss both the third and fourth Tests.