MS Dhoni or AB de Villiers - Virat Kohli Picks Fastest Runner Between Wickets

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Bengaluru, March 21: Star India and Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Virat Kohli has made his choice for fastest runners between wickets as he makes his pick from former teammates Mahendra Singh Dhoni and AB de Villiers.

Kohli and De Villiers, who played together at RCB for 11 seasons, spoke about their time together on field and off field at the Bangalore-based franchise during a chat on a YouTube Channel 'The 360 Show'.

Kohli, who is one of the quickest runner between the wickets himself, said there is no question that De Villiers was the fastest runner, but feels his former captain MS Dhoni was also quick.

"Of course, it's not even a question. I've been asked this question before. AB has been by far the fastest I've run with between wickets. The only other guy who I had so much co-ordination and understanding was MS (Dhoni)," Kohli said.

"Now, I don't know about the speeds matching between the wickets. But him (AB) and MS, I would not even have to call. We hardly called."

De Villiers, meanwhile, said Faf Du Plessis was someone who was quick between the wickets as the co-host of the show told him that he can't choose Kohli.

"I've never played with MS, or else he would have been right up my list as well. Definitely Faf Du Plessis," De Villiers said.

The duo also made their picks on the worst runners to run with between the wickets. Kohli picked his current Indian teammate, while De Villiers chose his former national side teammate as the worst player to run with between the wickets.

"Controversial one. Cheteshwar Pujara," added Kohli, who explained later that: "It was a Centurion Test match on the tour of 2018. He was run out in both the innings."

"Mine is controversial as well," De Villiers said, adding "He is the best runner I have run with as well, it's Faf. But he's run me out at least seven times in my career. We have had some worst misunderstandings."

Kohli and ABD's best atmosphere

Kohli and De Villiers have been involved in some high voltage matches during their career. The duo, who played in the IPL 2016 final, picked different matches as their best atmosphere. Kohli picked three matches of ureal atmosphere.

"It's a simple one for me. The IPL final 2016 was a special day. It was very intense, but above that it's obviously the 2011 ODI World Cup in Mumbai. That was ubelievable an atmosphere," Kohli said.

"I had never experience anything like that until 23rd of October 2022 against Pakistan at the MCG in the T20 World Cup. 94000 people. That night was something else. It was more than a sporting experience that feels fresh even now when I think about it."

De Villiers, meanwhile, went for an emotional choice of the 2015 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Eden Park, which changeroom he likened to a dungeon.

"Best atmosphere. It's a tough one because it makes me want to cry (chuckles). 2015 Eden Park, we lost to New Zealand. I remember sitting in the dungeon or they call it the change room, but it's like you're basically locked up in some prison cell at the bottom of the stadium," said De Villiers.

"We can't see anything. We just had a little televsion screen and we could hear the commentators going 'It's the start of the semifinals of the World Cup' and all of a sudden the crowd got so loud, we couldn't hear anything on the TV anymore.

"When the first ball was bowled. I was very luck that day as I was not Hashim Amla or Quinton de Kock facing the first ball. I was in at number four. It was so nerve-wrecking. But the minute, I crossed the boundary line, I was like I'm at home and done this before."