Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli recently revealed the most memorable moment of his 18-year career with the franchise. The right-handed batsman described the Indian Premier League 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS) as a memorable one and dropped AB de Villiers’ name.
Kohli ended his long trophy drought when Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Punjab Kings to lift their first IPL trophy in 2025. He was the highest run scorer for the team. The batsman scored 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71, which included eight half-centuries.
It is not difficult at all – Virat Kohli
Speaking at a promotional event sponsored by Sun Pharma, Virat Kohli recalled an emotional conversation with AB de Villiers. Kohli said the former Proteas captain’s celebrations across the boundary will always stay with him.
“It’s not difficult at all, the final was very memorable. But even within the game there are moments that one remembers. I would highlight two moments that were quite special for me.”
Virat Kohli shares his most memorable RCB moment.
He said- The final was very memorable, and there were special moments in the game – like when he got an important wicket and he celebrated with the same emotion on the boundary with ABD.pic.twitter.com/SyIFumogOT
– Sam (@Cricsam01) 21 March 2026
“There was a time when we got an important wicket. I was fielding on the boundary and AB de Villiers was standing outside. We both celebrated, like he was across the rope and I was in the field, but we both celebrated with the same spirit.”
“So it was very special because it highlighted what the team means to us and we shared the ups and downs, the emotions, the heartbreaks, the almost moments,” he said.
A look at Virat Kohli’s record for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL
Virat Kohli joined RCB in the early 2008 season and established himself as the backbone of the franchise. He enjoyed a record-breaking 2016 campaign, scoring 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03, including four centuries and seven fifties.
In the following seasons, he continued to be one of the most consistent performers in the league. He scored 541 runs in 2018 and followed it up with 464 runs in 2019.
Kohli returned to top form in 2023, scoring 639 runs in 14 matches at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82, which included two centuries and six fifties. He continued that momentum into the 2024 and 2025 seasons, playing a key role at the top of the order.
Overall, across as many seasons with RCB, Kohli has played over 267 matches and scored over 8,500 runs at an average of almost 39 and a strike rate above 130, including eight centuries and 63 fifties.
A look at AB de Villiers’ record for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL
AB de Villiers joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 and scored 312 runs in 10 matches at an average of 34.66 and a strike rate of 144.44, which included two fifties.
In the following season, he established himself as the backbone of RCB’s batting lineup. The middle-order batsman scored 513 runs in 16 matches during the 2015 campaign at an average of 46.63 and a strike rate of 174.24, which included one century and three fifties.
In 2016, he scored 687 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52.84 and a strike rate of 168.79, including one century and six fifties, which played a vital role in RCB reaching the final. He remained one of the most consistent performers for the franchise over the following years, playing impressive innings under pressure and finishing games with remarkable consistency.
Overall, in 11 seasons with RCB, AB de Villiers played 156 matches and scored 4,491 runs at an average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 158.63, including two centuries and 37 fifties.
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