AB de Villiers, one of the most popular international players in the country, has revealed his experience playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and forming a bond with the fans.
De Villiers, who retired from international cricket in 2018, joined RCB in 2011 and had a great stint with the team, hitting 4491 runs in 28 matches and helping them reach the playoffs five times.
De Villiers, 37, was informed that admirers were offering him apartments to live in. He responded to the offer with a witty remark, claiming that he requires a "big apartment" since his three children "need a lot of room".
He also stated that his connection with the franchise extends far beyond cricket and that it would not have been possible with any other team.
"I hope it's a big apartment because I have three kids now and we need a lot of room! My relationship with RCB goes a lot deeper than just playing cricket for them. And I don't think it would have been the same for any other franchise and that's what I hold dearest to my heart - it's the fans and the city itself," said de Villiers in the RCB podcast.
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After Virat Kohli, the South African batsman is the second all-time top run-scorer for RCB in IPL. With runs of 133* against Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 129* against Gujarat Lions in 2016, he also owns the record for the second and third highest individual scores in the IPL.
During his ten-year tenure at the Bangalore-based franchise, De Villiers has made connections with the sites he has visited in the city. Before relocating to Bangalore, he was a part of the Delhi Capitals.
"I have always connected with the places I go to. It's a bit weird but I remember smells and visual stuff I see. The minute I get into Bangalore there's a certain freshness in the air, a certain something that I sort of connect with that feels familiar.
"And I would never pick that up in any (another city). I have thought about it long and hard - Mumbai, Delhi, if you put me in any other team, I never would have had that kind of connection so that's one thing that I find special while playing for RCB," he further said.
De Villiers, who is known for his 360-degree batting style, might soon be donning the coach's hat. He'd hinted at his return to the RCB, indicating that he'd want to take on a mentoring position in the future.
"I still believe that I have a role to play in SA cricket and also over there in the IPL with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). I have no idea what will come next but I will take it one day at a time and see. I have been looking after and mentoring some youngsters with potential and ability for the last few years," he had recently told TimesLive.com.za.
