Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player AB de Villiers praised Virat Kohli ahead of IPL 2025. He said that winning the league with the team would be the perfect way to end Kohli’s amazing career.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is just around the corner, and preparations for the tournament are in full swing. The league will kick off on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
AB de Villiers Praises Virat Kohli Ahead of IPL 2025
IPL 2025 will be a great chance for Royal Challengers Bangalore to stake their claim on the trophy. The franchise recently named Rajat Patidar as their captain and has some strong players in the team this time, with the biggest star being Virat Kohli, who has been a key part of the franchise.
Kohli is one of the biggest match-winners in the IPL, but sadly, he has never won the trophy. He is the leading run-scorer in the league, with over 8,000 runs, including 8 centuries and 55 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli is currently in great form at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and this will surely be a big boost for RCB as they head into IPL 2025, where they’ll be eager to win their first-ever title.
AB de Villiers, while discussing Virat Kohli, highlighted how the batter is stepping out of his comfort zone and trying new things. He emphasized that winning the IPL would be the perfect addition to Kohli’s career. De Villiers also praised Kohli for his outstanding performance in the previous season. Speaking to JioHotstar, he said:
“It’s great to see him stepping out of his comfort zone, trying new shots, and exploring different aspects of his game. He always had that ability in him. You can see how much it means to him.”
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“Winning the IPL with RCB would be the perfect finishing touch to his already phenomenal career. He was outstanding last season. His strike rate wasn’t the problem – he played exactly the role his team needed him to.”
AB de Villiers on Kohli’s Growth: Stepping Out of His Comfort Zone
AB de Villiers also hit back at critics of Virat Kohli, calling discussions about his strike rate ridiculous. He emphasized that Kohli played the role the team required and performed accordingly. He said:
“The scrutiny over Virat’s strike rate was absolutely ridiculous. He had done exactly what his team needed from him. It’s all about the situation.
“When he has someone at the other end he trusts, you see him experiment and play with more freedom. But when that’s not the case, he stays true to his natural game -anchoring the innings when needed.”
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