Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and South Africa National Cricket Team luminary batsman, AB de Villiers, has dropped a significant hint regarding the anticipated return of contemporary batting maestro Virat Kohli to the cricketing arena.

Kohli’s last appearance in competitive cricket was marked by a duck in a T20I encounter against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on January 17, 2024. Subsequently, he has been absent from the competitive scene, initially withdrawing from India’s squad for the first two Tests against the England National Cricket Team and prolonging his hiatus through the remainder of the series.

Kohli’s Paternity Leave: A Break from Cricketing Action

The reason for Kohli’s cricketing sabbatical was initially disclosed by his close confidant AB de Villiers, with Kohli later elaborating on his hiatus from his beloved format of cricket. On February 20, Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma took to social media to announce the arrival of their baby boy, Akaay.

As Kohli’s absence from the Test series against the England National Cricket Team was attributed to the birth of his second child, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed skepticism regarding Kohli’s participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

AB de Villiers Suggests Virat Kohli’s Interest in His Inclusion

On his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers, the renowned Proteas batsman, dismissed Gavaskar’s comment and dropped a hint regarding Kohli’s comeback while discussing the possibility of returning to Bengaluru to support the RCB franchise. De Villiers revealed that Kohli had extended an invitation for him to spend time in Bengaluru, indicating a potential return for the former RCB skipper in IPL 2024.

“Nothing is set in stone yet,” de Villiers commented on his potential return to RCB. “Virat Kohli has suggested that he may want me to join him for some time in Bengaluru, possibly to work with the batters. However, the final decision rests with Andy Flower, Faf, and the team management. In the meantime, I’ll be in Mumbai for the initial weeks of the IPL, engaging in commentary. Don’t forget to tune in to our live streams. I’ll also be present for the knockout stages.”

In IPL 2023, Virat Kohli displayed outstanding form with the bat, accumulating 639 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82. He also recorded 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries in the tournament.

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The commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is scheduled for March 22, featuring an opening showdown between the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai.