Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers are two of the major members of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL). Although RCB are yet to win an IPL trophy, the duo has scored a lot of runs for the franchise over the years. They also share a healthy rapport, having played together for the franchise since IPL 2011.
When cricketing activities were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic for almost six months, they also entertained the fans by coming live together on Instagram. Virat Kohli also refers to the former South African cricketer as ‘biscuit’ and he recently revealed the reasons behind the same.
Virat Kohli Greeted AB De Villiers Who Joined RCB In 2011 After Spending Three Years With Delhi
In IPL’s inaugural year 2008, Virat Kohli was inducted in the RCB squad and started leading the side in the year 2013 taking over the reins from Daniel Vettori. RCB is yet to win IPL even once despite being finalists thrice.
“I picked it from South African slang, so people that you like, you are close to, you call them biscuit, biscotti. Because everyone loves biscuits, right?” Kohli was quoted as saying in one of the videos posted by RCB.
Back in 2011, AB De Villiers joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore after spending three years with the Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals. The 31-year-old Virat Kohli said how he introduced himself to the former Proteas cricketer back then.
“In 2011, Johannesburg is when we said hello to each other properly. It was at the stadium where there is a tunnel where we come out through. They had already practiced and we arrived for practice and I said – Hello, I am really looking forward to playing with you (at RCB). He responded by saying he was also excited to play for RCB,” he added.
With Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers has posted five 100-plus partnerships for RCB and two 200-plus partnerships, the only pair in the world to post two such partnerships thus far.
Virat Kohli And AB De Villiers Have Contrasting Form In IPL 2020
At the present point in time, Virat Kohli is the all-time leading run-scorer in the history of the IPL, scoring 5430 runs at an average of 37.19 with five centuries and 36 half-centuries. As far as AB De Villiers goes, he has 4529 runs from 157 matches at an average of 40.43.
But in the ongoing 13th edition of IPL 2020, their form has been contrasting. Virat Kohli, in the first three games, failed to reach double digits twice.
He played at an average of six scoring only 18 runs and will be looking to make amends with the bat. AB De Villiers, on the other hand, has 134 runs at an average of 67 with a couple of fifties to show for his efforts with the bat.