AB De Villiers: Outgoing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli has had a bigger impact than he will understand, teammate AB de Villiers said in the locker room after losing his 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator on Monday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- De Villiers joined RCB in 2011 and has had several memorable partnerships with Kohli
- De Villiers said that Kohli has touched people in ways even he won’t know
- He joked that some umpires might sleep better now that Kohli is no longer captain
“I have been here through all the years with Virat as captain. And I think the word that comes to mind is ‘grateful’. We were very lucky to have had you at the front,” said De Villiers.
“The way you captained this team has inspired everyone. Certainly inspired me to become better as a player and a person. You have had a much bigger impact than you will ever understand, it has gone miles. There are stories that you don’t even hear of people’s lives that you have touched.
“I have known you on the field but away from it as well. You make people believe in themselves, which is much more important than winning a trophy. Which I still believe will come your way,” he said.
Kohli and De Villiers had several memorable moments on the field. Notably a 229-run partnership they shared in the 2016 IPL against the Gujarat Lions. The association came in just 97 balls and both Kohli (109 of 55 balls). And de Villiers (129 of 52 balls) beat centuries.
“I think some of the umpires will sleep a bit better,” De Villiers joked. “Very happy for them. But congrats on a great captaincy career. And I look forward to you winning more trophies for us and for India.”
Before the start of the UAE leg of the 2021 IPL. Kohli had said that he would step down as captain of the RCB at the end of the season.
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