Pujara is the worst runner between the wickets, MS Dhoni the best: Virat Kohli

During a conversation on former’s YouTube channel "The 360 Show," Kohli and De Villiers, who played together at RCB for 11 seasons, talked about their experience there both on and off the pitch, picked favourites of the game and more.

AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli during a Youtube interview. (Screengrab)

With just a week left for the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), RCB legends AB de Villiers and former skipper Virat Kohli caught up for a fun live session where they shared exciting details from their careers.
During a conversation on the former’s YouTube channel “The 360 Show,” Kohli and De Villiers, who played together at RCB for 11 seasons, talked about their experience of playing for the franchise both on and off the pitch, recalled some of the favourite moments from the game and more.

When the host asked the duo to pick the worst runner between the wickets during their respective careers, Kohli named his India teammate Cheteshwar Pujara. At the same time, De Villiers, on the other hand, chose compatriot Faf du Plessis.

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“Controversial one. Cheteshwar Pujara” said Kohli and explained, “It was a Centurion Test match on the tour of 2018. He was run out in both the innings.”

“Pujara was run-out in the first innings of Centurion Test and I said, ‘Its OK’, such things happen in cricket; Cheteshwar Pujara played a shot in the second innings and called Parthiv Patel for 3rd run, Pujara himself was running towards the danger end and he got run-out again and that too by a big margin”, Virat Kohli added while leaving AB de Villiers in splits.

Pujara, despite being a great runner between the wickets, has had some run-out problems in his career. His willingness to take quick singles and sharp doubles sometimes leads to miscommunication with his batting partner, resulting in run-outs. Pujara’s running between the wickets also exposes his lack of speed, making him vulnerable to direct hits from the opposition fielders.

“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.”

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When asked about the best, ABD chose Kohli and called him as one of the quickest runners between the wickets, while Kohli chose his former captain MS Dhoni.

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“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 coordination and understanding with was MS (Dhoni),” Kohli said.

“Now, I don’t know 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 that Faf Du Plessis was quick between the wickets as the show’s co-host told him that he couldn’t pick Kohli.

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“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.

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