AB de Villiers has revealed about his relationship with Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RCB’s long-awaited title triumph this year ended with a historic win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
With a six-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore not only won the cup, but it also evoked deep emotions among the legends who helped build its legacy, and AB de Villiers was one of them.
AB de Villiers reveals why he knew RCB would ultimately win IPL 2025
Recently, the former South Africa captain has revealed about the powerful moments he shared with Virat Kohli during RCB’s championship run in IPL 2025. Before the season started, the great batsman had a strong feeling that something special was going to come RCB’s way.
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After the IPL 2025 mega auction, De Villiers studied the team closely and felt for the first time that the team finally has the right combination to take the lead. His confidence was based on the conviction that this team has what it takes to end its title drought in the tournament.
AB de Villiers opens up on his relationship with Virat Kohli
“Yeah, that was very special. Virat spoke to me; I actually spoke to him at the time of the auction, and I told him, I think this is it. When I saw the team, to be honest, I’ll show you the message later,” AB de Villiers said on Kevin Pietersen’s The Switch channel.
I just wrote, like, this is the first time that I can honestly look at our team and feel like I have no doubt that we’re going to win this. We’re not anticipating that we’re going to win it, but we have a very, very good chance with the team we have.
De Villiers revealed that after RCB won important matches away from home, his former teammate and Kohli had messaged him and asked him to be present when the team won the trophy. And De Villiers promised that he would not miss that moment by any means.
AB de Villiers says Virat Kohli wanted him there for trophy occasion
When RCB finally completed their dream season, De Villiers stood there beside the team and enjoyed every moment of the celebration. The South African legend shared that Kohli pulled him close, reminding him how much he meant to the franchise and how years of hard work put in by him and Chris Gayle had laid the foundation for this historic moment.
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He signed off by saying, “Virat sent me a message then, and I started really well, obviously, winning away from home. And then he sent me a message saying, ‘When we win this trophy you better be here.’ And I said, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Yeah, so that was pretty special, and he was whispering in my ear about what I’ve meant to the team over the years. And he just hopes that Chris and I understand his gratitude for the hours he’s given us over the years.”
Notably, AB de Villiers has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL from 2011 to 2021 and has scored over 4100 runs for the franchise. He also represented the Delhi-based franchise in the IPL.