Faf du Plessis calls Virat Kohli his “most expensive friend” over watch collection

Faf du Plessis Calls Virat Kohli His “Most Expensive Friend” Over Luxury Watch Passion

Virat Kohli’s intensity and achievements on the cricket field are well known, but former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has offered a glimpse of the Indian star’s interests away from the game. Speaking about their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), du Plessis revealed that Kohli’s enthusiasm for luxury watches has influenced his own spending habits.

In a light-hearted conversation, du Plessis described Kohli as his “most expensive friend,” saying that seeing the batter’s impressive watch collection had made his own wallet considerably lighter. The former RCB captain also praised Kohli’s commitment to fitness, food and personal style, describing him as someone who gives his full attention to whatever he chooses to pursue.

How Kohli’s Watch Collection Influenced Du Plessis

Du Plessis shared the story during an appearance on Indian podcaster Prakhar Gupta’s YouTube channel. The two former teammates both enjoy fashion, he explained, but Kohli’s interest in watches stands out. The collection, and the conversations around it, encouraged du Plessis to take a closer interest in timepieces himself.

“We both enjoy fashion. He’s a massive watch guy. I’ve said to him that he’s the most expensive friend I’ve ever met,” du Plessis said. He joked that the watches Kohli showed him had made him spend more than he otherwise might have. His comments offer a personable counterpoint to the public image of Kohli as one of cricket’s most intensely competitive figures.

The anecdote also reflects how elite athletes’ interests can extend beyond their sport. For Kohli, du Plessis suggested, attention to detail is not limited to batting or training. It can be seen in his approach to clothing, watches and everyday routines. Rather than treating these interests casually, Kohli appears to bring the same focus to them that he brings to cricket.

Discipline Beyond the Cricket Field

Du Plessis’s account went beyond luxury accessories. He said Kohli maintained a high level of commitment in the gym and in his food choices, describing him as someone who was consistently “at 100%.” That observation aligns with Kohli’s long-standing reputation for prioritising fitness and preparation—qualities that have helped him sustain a demanding international career.

For professional cricketers, the work behind a performance often happens away from match day. Training, recovery, nutrition and mental preparation all shape a player’s ability to compete across formats and long tours. Du Plessis’s remarks suggest that Kohli’s disciplined habits are part of a broader mindset: he sets high standards for himself, whether he is preparing for a match or pursuing a personal interest.

That consistency can also have an effect on teammates. In a dressing room, a senior player’s routines and expectations may help establish the tone for others. Du Plessis played alongside Kohli at RCB from 2022 to 2024, a period that gave him an opportunity to see the former India captain in both competitive and relaxed settings.

Du Plessis Describes Kohli’s Playful, Softer Side

Despite Kohli’s fierce on-field reputation, du Plessis said he is playful and fun-loving away from cricket. He also suggested that Kohli had developed a softer edge by the time they shared the RCB dressing room, particularly as he entered a later stage of his career and embraced family life.

“He’s actually quite playful off the field,” du Plessis said, adding that Kohli’s personality had not fundamentally changed. Rather, he had noticed a gentler side. Du Plessis linked that shift to the experience of becoming a parent, while making clear that Kohli’s competitive drive remained intact.

The distinction is an interesting one for fans: intensity and warmth are not necessarily opposites. A player can be demanding in training and relentless during a contest while still being relaxed and humorous among teammates. Du Plessis’s comments paint Kohli as a more rounded figure than the fiercely focused batter often seen during a high-pressure match.

Kohli’s Captaincy and India’s Fearless Identity

Du Plessis also reflected on Kohli’s influence as India captain, crediting him with raising the team’s intensity and encouraging a tougher approach. In his view, Kohli’s leadership helped create an environment in which Indian players were less willing to be intimidated by opponents.

“His intensity really picked up the guys around him in the Indian team,” du Plessis said. He described a side that played with greater hardness and confidence, adding that opponents could not simply bully India because of the way Kohli approached the game.

Kohli’s captaincy is often discussed through results and statistics, but du Plessis’s assessment focuses on culture. A captain’s influence can be visible in how a team responds to pressure, how aggressively it competes and whether players believe they can challenge established opposition. Du Plessis’s remarks suggest that Kohli’s forceful style helped make those qualities a defining part of India’s identity during his leadership years.

What the Revelation Adds to Kohli’s Public Image

The luxury-watch story may be a small detail, but it gives fans a fresh perspective on a global cricket star. It shows the easy camaraderie that can develop between teammates and reveals how personal interests can become part of dressing-room conversation. Du Plessis’s joke about the cost of Kohli’s collection also makes the story relatable: even a successful international cricketer can be tempted by a friend’s enthusiasm for an expensive hobby.

For supporters following Kohli’s career, the comments offer more than a prediction about his next performance or a recap of his records. They highlight the habits, relationships and personality traits that exist beyond the scorecard. Du Plessis’s account portrays a player who remains ambitious and disciplined, but who is also playful, family-oriented and passionate about the things he enjoys.

Kohli is expected to return to action when India face New Zealand in a five-match ODI series next month, according to the original report. Until then, du Plessis’s comments provide fans with a reminder that the former India captain’s competitive edge is only one part of his character—and that his watch collection may have made at least one teammate’s hobby significantly more expensive.