Former South African player AB de Villiers shared his gratitude to star India batter Virat Kohli for his ‘kind words’ after being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame along with legendary England batter Alastair Cook and former Indian women’s cricketer Neetu David.

However, Kohli and AB de Villiers played together for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and shared a lot of match-winning partnerships in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After De Villiers became a part of the elite list of cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame, Kohli referred to him as “the most talented cricketer I have played with".

AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli played together for RCB

Meanwhile, AB de Villiers, who retired from international cricket in 2018, and last played in the IPL back in 2021, thanked Virat Kohli for his gesture. He also shared that rather than his records, he always wanted to be remembered as a player for whom the team was more important rather than personal milestones as well.

SEE ALSO: Watch: Rohit Sharma's Playful 'Rohit Bhai RCB Me Aa Jao Yaar' Query Goes Viral

“It is really special for me" - AB de Villiers

“It is really special for me and obviously Virat as well, thank you so very much for the kind words. What I am really proud about is Virat speaking about me always putting the team first,” De Villiers said, as quoted by ICC.

“Always prepared to do everything I can to have an impact on the team. And that’s how I want to be remembered by, not by my stats or my records. I want to be remembered as a guy who contributed to the team and always put the team first. I am very, very proud about that and I will not shy away from that. That is certainly the way I played my cricket and it was always a priority to me,” AB de Villiers further added.

However, after making his debut way back in 2005, AB de Villiers became one of the greatest cricketers of world cricket as well. In 538 matches across formats for South Africa, he smashed 16 centuries and 108 half-centuries as well.

Neetu David, Alastair Cook, and AB de Villiers have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. They are the 113th, 114th, and 115th members of the club.

Former Indian left-arm Spinner Neetu David, who featured in 10 Tests and 97 ODIs became the second Indian woman after Diana Edulji to be part of the ICC Hall of Fame. David is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in women's ODI cricket with 141 scalps and was also the first female player from India to claim 100 ODI wickets. She still holds the record for the best bowling figures in a women's Test innings, taking 8/53 against England in 1995. More recently, she has continued her deep connection with cricket, serving as the selection chair for India’s women’s team. David won the role in September 2020 and had to oversee the transition of an Indian team that had to usher in some young talent following the retirements of former greats Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. David has been partly responsible for the growth of current India stars like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh as they have established themselves at an international level while continuing to look for ways off the field to boost the performance of the national side.

Neetu David on being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame

"It is truly an honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, something that I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who puts on their national team jersey," David said in an ICC statement. "This comes after a lifetime of dedication to this great sport, and it caps a very special journey for me to get to this point. I would like to thank the ICC for the recognition, as well as all the BCCI, my teammates, coaches, family, and friends that were a constant source of support throughout my career."

See Also:- India vs New Zealand: Day 1 of Bengaluru Test called off due to rain

England's batter was the leading run-scorer and century-maker until recently after being surpassed by Joe Root. He amassed 766 runs in just seven innings during England's first Ashes victory in Australia in 24 years in the 2010-11 series and went on to captain England to two consecutive home Ashes wins in 2013 and 2015. Also, he was the reason behind England's first Test Series victory in 28 years in India in 2012.

Alastair Cook after joining the ICC Hall of Fame

"It is a huge honour to join some of the greatest players to have ever played the game," Cook said. "I have always felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for Essex and England and so to have this latest honour given to me just makes it all the more special."

See Also:- Perth Stadium to host its first-ever Ashes Test in 2025-26 series

AB De Villiers set the record for the fastest 50, 100, 150 in ODI Cricket. He amassed over 20,000 runs in international cricket. Also, he was part of their semi-final appearances in 2007 and 2015 ODI World Cup. He retired from internationals in 2018 with an average of over 50 in Tests and ODIs.

AB De Villiers thanks ICC and all the supporters after being introduced in the ICC Hall of Fame

"Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game … and it's true that, whether you are a batsman taking guard at the crease or a bowler pausing at the start of his run-up, you - and only you - are responsible for what happens," de Villiers said. "That said, everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game. And I know I would have achieved nothing without the help and support of so many team-mates, coaches, and support staff from my early days at school in Pretoria, through so many memorable days at the Titans and with the South Africa team - and, indeed in franchise cricket - all around the world. To all of them, to the ICC, and supporters around the world, thank you."

As Mumbai Indians face Kolkata Knight Riders in today’s match of IPL 2024, overseas pacer Gerald Coetzee sheds light on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy amidst mounting criticism. Since assuming the role of captain, Hardik has faced challenges both as a player and a leader, drawing scrutiny from former cricketers who question the decision to appoint him over Rohit Sharma. Coetzee’s revelations provide a glimpse into the dynamics within the team under Hardik’s leadership.

“I think he’s been a really good captain…”

Coetzee also commends Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performances amidst Mumbai Indians’ struggles, highlighting the pacer’s consistent excellence despite the team’s setbacks.

“I think he’s been a really good captain. I think as you get different captaincy styles, he’s got a new style which is unique to him. No captain is the same, he’s been really good. He’s been really motivational to the guys. He’s been really clear with the plans. I think he’s an exceptional captain,” said Gerald Coetzee in the pre-match press conference.

“I think basically, it comes down to simplicity and accuracy and I think he’s done that better than any other bowler in this competition and that’s as simple as that,” he added.

AB de Villiers’ critique of Hardik’s captaincy style

Former South African batter AB de Villiers has previously criticized Hardik’s captaincy approach, citing its clash with the expectations of senior players like Rohit.

“The captaincy style of Hardik Pandya is quite bravado. It’s ego-driven in a way, chest out. I don’t think how he walks on the field is always genuine, but he has decided that is his way of captaincy. Almost like MS. Cool, calm, collective, always got your chest out. But when you play with a lot of experienced players, guys who have been around for ages… They don’t buy into that. It worked at GT, where it was a younger team. Sometimes, inexperienced players love to follow that kind of leadership,” De Villiers had said on his YouTube channel.

See Also: Sehwag declines debate on MSD’s batting spot

With Mumbai Indians already eliminated from the playoffs, attention shifts to their preparations for the next season, including potential changes and strategies, especially considering the upcoming mega auction.

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers showered praise on India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Virat Kohli, calling him one of the greatest players cricket has ever seen. Kohli, currently the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, has amassed 500 runs in 10 matches with a strike rate of 147.49, including 46 fours and 20 sixes.

De Villiers, speaking on his official YouTube channel, expressed frustration with critics who focus solely on Kohli’s strike rate, emphasizing Kohli’s incredible performances in the IPL.

“This guy is one of the best players to ever play the game of cricket…”

 In RCB’s recent match against Gujarat Titans (GT), Kohli’s unbeaten 70* played a crucial role in their victory, dismissing any debate surrounding his strike rate.

“Virat Kohli, catching criticism about his strike rate. It’s been going on for way too long and I am sort of fed up with that now. I’m frustrated to say the least. This guy is one of the best players to ever play the game of cricket. He’s incredible in the IPL, he plays a certain role for RCB, and I’ve pretty much had enough of data-driven pundits who keep criticising this man. When you don’t really have knowledge of the game. How many games of cricket have you played, how many IPL hundreds have you scored?” De Villiers said.

Recalling Kohli’s milestone

During the match, Kohli achieved a significant milestone, hitting his 24th half-century while chasing a target, placing him second on the all-time list behind David Warner. Additionally, Kohli equaled Warner’s record of scoring over 500 runs in an IPL season, achieving this feat for the seventh time in his career.

See Also: Hasan Ali back to Pakistan T20I squad just ahead of the World Cup

Kohli’s consistent performances and milestone achievements continue to solidify his reputation as one of cricket’s all-time greats, earning praise from former teammates and opponents alike.

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.

SEE ALSO:ICC Rankings: Joe Root climbs to 2nd place in ICC Test batting rankings as Steven Smith slips

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.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player AB de Villiers said that RCB is missing an X-factor spinner like Rashid Khan in its Indian Premier League 2024 squad. According to the veteran, RCB have strengthened their pace-bowling attack with the addition of Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson, but the spin attack remains weak.

Notably, RCB released veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and Wanindu Hasaranga before the 2024 auction as well. They failed to purchase a star spinner at the mini-auction in Dubai, focusing more on pace attack.

In a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers opened up on the missing link in the RCB squad for IPL 2024. He said, “One or two incredible spinners; X-factor spinners. I think of guys like Kuldeep Yadav. We need an X-factor spinner like Rashid Khan perhaps. We got rid of Yuzi Chahal not long ago. We missed him over the last few years, and I think that’s still the missing link. They also let go Hasaranga. I don’t know what the plans are there.”

The veteran also opined that RCB should have tried harder for quality spinners at the auction but also added that they did well with their buys in the fast-bowling department.

SEE ALSO: ‘Youngsters must learn from Virat Kohli about fitness, says Gautam Gambhir

“The spin department, I don’t think is strong enough. They could have done a little bit better. But, I think they added to the seam bowling, which has been the area that has let us down at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the past. I do think Alzarri Joseph justifies that decision.”

“Very good buy for ₹11.5 crore” – AB de Villiers on Alzarri Joseph

While many have questioned West Indies pace bowler Joseph’s purchase for ₹11.5 crore, AB de Villiers does not feel RCB overspend on him as well. Apart from Joseph and Ferguson, RCB bought Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Saurav Chuahan and Swapnil Singh at the IPL 2024 auction as well.

“(Joseph) Very good buy for ₹11.5 crore; I think it was a fair price. Yash Dayal also very good for ₹5 crore. Lockie Ferguson was a very good late pick up. I thought RCB was having a fairly average auction up until Ferguson and Tom Curran buys, where they got a lot of experience for not a lot of money. We all know Ferguson can bowl 150 kph. That’s exactly what you need at the Chinnaswamy Stadium,” he concluded.

Former South African batter AB de Villiers shared that star Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play and try to win the T20 World Cup 2024 which will take place in the West Indies and the USA. However, there is no clarity on their inclusion in the T20I format ever since they lost in the 2023 World Cup final. Moreover, they haven’t played a T20I game since the semifinal loss against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup as well.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers shared his views on the chances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing in the mega event. While Rohit and Kohli have been rested from the white-ball series of the South Africa tour, the Indian team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav in the T20Is as well.

AB de Villiers said, “We just have to see them there (Rohit & Virat). It’s all about their hunger. Do they have the hunger to go there and win the T20 World Cup? I think so. I cannot speak on their behalf but I think they will want to go there and win. T20 World Cup is a short tournament and you do set yourselves up to have another chance of winning a World Cup. So I do see them going there.”

See also: IND vs AUS: Ruturaj Gaikwad credits MS Dhoni for his amazing game sense

He continued: “India captained by Suryakumar Yadav is quite a nice move, I like that. He is a bit of a 360 (degree) player. He thinks differently and is a bit creative. It will be nice to watch him lead his troops in South Africa.”

However, AB de Villiers was also happy to see some new faces in both the Indian as well as South African T20I squads for the upcoming series. He also believes the selectors have rewarded both teams for their performances in their respective T20 franchise leagues and domestic cricket as well.

“What I liked about both squads was that the players have been rewarded for domestic performances. Indian squad has played who have done well in the IPL, and the South African squad has those who had a great SA20 season. The selectors have gone with these players to see how they handle the pressure with the T20 World Cup next year. Very excited,” he concluded.

The IPL is the world’s most profitable cricket competition. The IPL is currently ranked as the world’s fourth most valuable sports league, with a whopping over $10.9 billion worth. 

Foreign stars worldwide have made significant sums of money by participating in the IPL throughout the years, in addition to Indian players who have captivated the fans and made enormous sums of money. These guys have just increased the worth and attraction of the major competitors. Here is a list of the top five foreign cricketers that have contributed to the fullest in the IPL.

AB De Villiers

Unsurprisingly, AB de Villiers takes the top slot, given his talent level and capacity to alter the course of a game with his incredible feats with the willow.

In 156 innings of IPL cricket, De Villiers has accumulated 4849 runs at an average of 40.40. The master of RCB’s batting has also amassed three hundred and 38 fifties in IPL games. De Villiers began his IPL career with the Delhi Capitals (formerly the Delhi Daredevils) before transferring to the Bangalore team in 2011.

Lasith Malinga

The Mumbai speedster Lasith Malinga holds the record for most wickets in IPL history with 170 in the lucrative competition. In the IPL, Malinga had a fantastic average of 19.80 and a respectable economy rate of 7.14 runs per over.

For his ten-year IPL career, Malinga has played for the Mumbai Indians. Malinga has earned a total of INR 48,22,19,500 throughout his IPL career. Malinga picked up 28 wickets in the fourth IPL season, which helped him win the prestigious Purple Cap award in 2011.

David Warner

David Warner maintains the IPL record for most fifty-scores scored. He is now third on the list of batters with the most runs scored in the competition. David Warner has the best foreign batting average in IPL history with 6187 runs from 169 innings at a 42.08 average.

Before going to his flawless IPL tenure with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014, Warner began his IPL journey with the Delhi Daredevils (now the Delhi Capitals). He returned to the squad last year and is now the captain of his former side, the Delhi Capitals. 

Kieron Pollard

The West Indian all-rounder has been a member of the Mumbai Indians team since 2010, and he has helped the team win the IPL championship five times.

In 189 IPL innings, Pollard has scored 3023 runs and taken 69 wickets for the Mumbai team in addition to playing. Aside from that, Pollard is regarded as one of the finest fielders in tournament history and is well-known for his extraordinary catches and saves.

Chris Gayle

He will rank among the top batters in IPL history. Chris Gayle holds the record for the best individual score (175) and the hundreds in a single league (six) in IPL history.

In 131 innings of IPL play, the legendary Jamaican batsman amassed 4772 runs at an astounding average of 41.13. Gayle has participated in 12 seasons of the IPL, playing for teams including the Kings XI Punjab (now known as the Punjab Kings), Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders. 

AB de Villiers, a former cricketer for South Africa, is of the opinion that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team has the potential to win multiple titles in the Indian Premier League (IPL) once they break out of their shackles and end their trophy drought. Despite reaching three finals since the competition’s inception, the team coached by Faf du Plessis has yet to win the championship. 

Prior to the massive auction, RCB kept most of their players and finished third in the 2022 season. Even though there are only about four months until the start of the next season, they have built a strong core and Virat Kohli’s return to form should be a huge boost for the team.

Opining that RCB have to win their first title to create winning momentum:

“It’s been how many seasons now? Quite a few, 14 or 15 or whatever. So, they would love to break the shackles. I think if RCB wins this one then, they’ll probably win two, three, four quickly but let’s wait and see what happens, T20 cricket is a bit of a gamble sometimes, anything can happen. Especially knockout games, but hopefully RCB’s turn is around the corner.”

De Villiers said in a video released by Star Sports

ALSO READ: BCCI sacks senior NSC Chetan Sharma

The franchise will get back to the famous M Chinnaswamy Arena one year from now, with the IPL indeed taking on a home-and-away organization with Coronavirus being out of the situation.

AB de Villiers set to feature for RCB in some capacity in IPL 2023

It is believed that the legendary middle-order batter, who along with Chris Gayle is the inaugural inductee into the RCB Hall of Fame, has returned to the team to participate in some capacity.

He recently went to Bengaluru to talk about his new job with the team. He said that he and Gayle will be there for the first home game of the season.

Speaking about what RCB meant to him,

“I absolutely love RCB, it’s meant the world for me, it’s changed my life. I have been there since 2011, I’ve made friends for life, it’s part of me and my family and that’s what we do, you know? We are all RCBians.”

De Villiers said

De Villiers played for the RCB from 2011 to 2021 before ceasing all cricket participation. Due to his mind-boggling performances over the years, he is regarded as one of the best actors in the league and has become a fan favorite in India.

South Africa and Rain continue to have a bitter relationship with each other. Since 1992, rain has been a torture for them at multi-national events. This time around too, South Africa has had an affair with rain. However, this time, the rain interruption has fortunately occured early for them, and may not affect them too much. Below though are the incidents where rain has affected them at multi-national events.

1992 World Cup

In 1992, South Africa was playing their first World Cup. They were coming back after a ban, and did pretty well in the tournament. Playing some good cricket through the tournament, they went up until the Semi-Finals. Facing England in the Semi-Finals, South Africa found themselves in a situation going either way as they needed 22 off 13 balls. With 22 needed off 13, rain came in, and spoilt South Africa’s chances in the freakiest possible manner. Back before Duckworth Lewis existed, rain stoppages often resulted in reducing the lowest productive overs from the first innings. As a result, a maiden over from England’s innings and an over which yielded one over were taken off. South Africa took the field needing 22 off just one ball, ending their hopes. The loss started a string of defeats in knockout games, and a journey that stayed with the rain.

2003 World Cup

Rain affected South Africa twice in the 2003 World Cup. The first incident though was not too much of an issue. Facing New Zealand, South Africa put 306 on the board. In response, New Zealand were off to a flier, needing 70 odd in thirteen overs with nine wickets in hand. On the next occasion though, South Africa endured a heartbreak. Chasing 268 in a must-win encounter against Sri Lanka, rain started becoming a factor as there was persistant rain throughout the innings.

The Duckworth-Lewis sheets were out, but South Africa made a miscalculation. In a misunderstanding with how many runs were needed, South Africa ended up tying the game. They were one run short of victory, and that resulted in their elimination in the group stages.

2015 World Cup

The 2015 World Cup Semi-Finals was as heartbreaking as it could get for South Africa. They looked so good all tournament, and came into the Semis with a buzz around them. After some early wickets, Faf Du Plessis and AB De Villiers did well to consolidate. With seven wickets in hand, and some incredible finishers to come, South Africa looked set for a huge score. At 216-3 in 38 overs though, rain came in, and ruined their momentum. The rain interruption left them with just five overs left in their innings as the game was reduced to a 43 overs a side match. South Africa lost momentum, and a chance to let their finishers run wild.

They still ended with a decent score, but with New Zealand knowing they had only 43 overs to play, it was advantage to them. A shortened game helped as they managed to chase down the score with four wickets left off the penultimate ball.

2022 T20 World Cup

The 2022 T20 World Cup is the latest entrant. While rain does not affect them too much, considering it occurred in their first game, it still put to close a chance to seal a massive win. Chasing 80 in 9 overs, Quinton De Kock had the team off to a flier. They were 51 in three overs. Had the rain stopped, South Africa would have won on DLS, but couldnt as five overs were needed to be bowled overall.

See Also: Virat Kohli Re-Announces Himself as the Chase Master – Cricket Winner

An Incident That Got Away

Rain threatened to affect South Africa in the 2013 Champions Trophy as well. Defending 230 in a 31 over game, South Africa only needed to avoid defeat to make the Semi-Finals. In response, West Indies struggled, and were below the DL par score up until the 15th over. With rain becoming a factor as the drizzle remained, the DL par scores were checked after each over. Towards the dying stages of the day, West Indies were ahead of the par score.

The rain picked up, but the umpires kept the players on for one more over, as it started getting better. In the first ball of the 27th over though, with West Indies four over the par score, Kieron Pollard got out. Rain followed his dimissal, and it was very heavy, resulting in the innings being called off, with West Indies equal to the par score. Had Kieron Pollard survived, South Africa would have had another rain incident added to their list of heartbreaks. His dimissal though, changed the script.