Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that AB de Villiers might join Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp as a mentor or batting coach for IPL 2022.
AB de Villiers, in November last year, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The swashbuckling batter was an integral part of RCB in IPL, since he joined the franchise in 2011.
The former Proteas batter is the second-highest run-getter for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with 4491 runs to his name, only behind Virat Kohli, who has 6283.
Although De Villiers won’t be seen playing in the IPL but he recently revealed that he will have a role to play for both South Africa and RCB in the near future.
Speaking in a video on YouTube, Aakash Chopra said that he won’t be surprised if AB de Villiers is seen in the RCB camp as a part of the coaching setup for IPL 2022.
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He added that even though the swashbuckling batter has called time on his career but he will be there on the ground.
"Of course, Sanjay Bangar is the head coach of RCB but I won't be surprised if AB de Villiers is seen in the RCB camp this year as well, that means in IPL 2022. It is an interesting thing that AB de Villiers has announced his retirement. He has said that he will not play anywhere, he will not play the IPL as well. But he will still be there on the ground,” Aakash Chopra said.
Chopra pointed out that it has been a custom in IPL that franchises tend to bring their players into the coaching duties. Considering this, he said that RCB might have already approached AB de Villiers and the former South African batter can become their coach or mentor for the next season.
“It has been a custom, if you see any franchise, that a player who plays from a franchise, after a while, he is sitting in their dugout as a mentor or batting coach or something or the other.
Similarly, I feel either RCB would have already approached AB de Villiers or would be doing so and he will be seen in that dugout as a mentor or batting coach,” he said.
