Former South African cricketing maestro and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legend AB de Villiers has laid out the winning formula for the struggling Bengaluru franchise in this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL). With RCB facing a rocky start, losing three out of their first four games, de Villiers stresses the importance of star batter Virat Kohli’s presence during the crucial middle overs.
Amidst RCB’s early setbacks, Kohli emerges as the lone beacon of consistency, showcasing his batting prowess with remarkable performances. Accumulating 203 runs at an impressive average of 67.66 across four games, including two half-centuries, Kohli has been the driving force behind RCB’s batting line-up. Currently adorned with the Orange Cap, Kohli’s stellar form contrasts sharply with the struggles of his teammates like Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, and skipper Faf Du Plessis.
Sharing insights on his Youtube channel, de Villiers underscores Kohli’s pivotal role in stabilizing RCB’s innings during the middle phase. “We need him to get through the first six overs; that’s ultimately how I want to see him play. Let Faf take more risks upfront, but Virat, I want you to be there over 6-15. That is when RCB is going to fire from all cylinders. Watch out for that,” de Villiers expressed.
Despite RCB’s mixed fortunes, de Villiers maintains an optimistic outlook, labeling their start as ‘not bad.’ “RCB… not a bad start but not great. They need a couple of wins. They will be hitting the road, and hopefully, they find good fortune away from home before they come back to the Chinnaswamy,” de Villiers added, rallying behind his team amidst the early season challenges.
