In recent years, there is hardly a better batter than KL Rahul in all formats of the game on whom teams can depend. Rahul has grown by leaps and bounds as a player to become an integral cog of the Indian national team and was recently named the captain of the Lucknow Supergiants in IPL 2022, one of the two new teams this year.
However, looking back at his early days in the IPL when he was still trying to find his feet at the top level in the RCB franchise, KL Rahul revealed how he developed a special relationship with AB de Villiers.
“My kid in a candy store moment came in I think 2012 or 2013 season, which was my first. I walked in and (saw) Virat (Kohli), Chris Gayle, Zaheer Khan, and AB, who was my favorite player and still is. I always go back and watch videos of him. Now, just before going to South Africa, I watched AB de Villiers hundreds in South Africa, then before going to England it was AB de Villiers in England. He has always been one of my favorite players,” Rahul said on the Youtube show ‘Breakfast with Champions hosted by Gaurav Kapur.
“I have a very nice, cute relationship with AB. I'm still very like... I don't have words. Nothing comes out. I try and then look like an idiot when trying to make a conversation with him after the games in IPL because there is so much I want to ask him but I don't know. It's a proper fanboy moment with him,” said Rahul.
De Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018. He brought an end to his illustrious playing career after the IPL 2021.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul's LSG will take on Ravindra Jadeja's CSK on March 31 in Mumbai in the ongoing IPL 2022.
