Virat Kohli has been with the RCB franchise since 2008 and captain RCB in 140 matches.
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers believes that winning an Indian Premier League (IPL) title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru would be the perfect compliment to Virat Kohli's incredible career.
Kohli has been a steady presence for RCB since the IPL began in 2008, captaining the team in 140 games from 2013-2021. In 252 matches, he has scored 8,004 runs, including eight centuries and 55 fifties, for an average of 38.67.
Kohli, 36, leads the IPL run-scoring rankings, much ahead of Shikhar Dhawan, who is second with 6,769 runs. Despite his great numbers, Kohli has yet to win an IPL trophy, with RCB becoming runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
As IPL 2025 approaches, beginning on March 22, de Villiers, Kohli's former RCB colleague, expressed his thoughts on the player's ability and goals.
"It's great to see him stepping out of his comfort zone, trying new shots, and exploring different aspects of his game. He's always had that ability in him. You can see how much it means to him. Winning the IPL with RCB would be the perfect finishing touch to his already phenomenal career," De Villiers said in an episode on JioHotstar.
"He was outstanding last season. His strike rate wasn't the problem - he played exactly the role his team needed him to. Unlike someone like Fraser McGurk for Delhi Capitals, Virat had the responsibility of holding the innings together. He deserves full credit for playing a crucial role in RCB's qualification,” he added.
De Villiers defended Kohli's approach to batting and his role as an anchor for the team.
"The scrutiny over Virat's strike rate was absolutely ridiculous. He had done exactly what his team needed from him. It's all about the situation. When he has someone at the other end he trusts, you see him experiment and play with more freedom. But when that's not the case, he stays true to his natural game -anchoring the innings when needed,” he stated.
RCb will have a new captain in IPL 2025 as Rajat Patidar will lead the side when they begin their IPL 2025 journey against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on March 22.