IPL 2022: Virat Kohli admits he will be emotional about AB de Villiers if RCB win title

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers shared the RCB dressing room for 11 years in the IPL until last year, when the South African decided to hang up his boots, before IPL 2022.

The former captain spoke about how much of an influence he had been on him. AB de Villiers played 184 IPL matches, amassing 5162 runs at an average of 39.71 and a strike rate of 151.69. Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, he called time on his illustrious career in November 2021.

Kohli said ‘He will remember ABD if RCB win the title.’

IPL 2022: Full Coverage

Kohli recalled the moment when he heard from De Villiers that he wouldn’t be playing anymore. Speaking on the franchise’s official website, Kohli said he was emotional when he heard the news.

Is it strange to not have AB de Villiers around?

Virat Kohli “It is very strange, I mean. I clearly remember when he decided to finally call it a day, he sent me a voice note. And, I still remember we were coming back from Dubai after the World Cup, and I got this voice note, and we were driving back home. I got the voice note, I opened it and listened to it. Anushka was with me and I looked at her like this.”

“The first thing she said was, don’t tell me. She knew. I kind of had the impression during the last IPL. He kept telling me, our rooms were next to each other. I want to see you for coffee one of these days. I kept getting nervous, I was like I am not sitting with you, I think there’s something coming.” he said.

“He said “I just want to sit and chat with you, it’s been a while.” And he never speaks like that, you know, because we interact all the time. I knew something was brewing up. It’s a very strange feeling, I got very emotional, the voice note was very emotional as well for me when he said I don’t have it in me anymore.”

“I have shared so many moments with him, highs and lows, everything, he’s been right next to me through thick and thin. I was thinking about him the other day that if we manage to win the title in the coming seasons, this one, next one, whatever it is. I would be very emotional thinking about him first, rather than you know what I would experience after such hard work of so many years.” Kohli added.

“I would actually think how much it would still mean to him, watching from home. He’s a special human being, he’s touched everyone’s lives here, we can all vouch for that, he’s been amazing. I don’t think there’s one person who can say AB has not contributed to my life some way or the other. “

AB de Villiers: “I know I’m not gonna go anywhere, I’m gonna be an RCBan for life. Every single person in the RCB setup has become family to me. I’ve spent a lot of time together now, some people come, some go. But that RCB franchise, and the spirit and the love we have for each other will always remain.