If RCB are to win their first IPL title, much will depend on AB, a batsman who can change any game with his power hitting.
AB de Villiers isn't one bit surprised at the possibility of his good mate Virat Kohli playing in this year's T20 World Cup.
Weakened by the departure of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, Rajasthan Royals will have their task cut out when they lock horns with a resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Saturday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore beat defending champions Mumbai Indians by two wickets in a last-ball thriller in the Indian Premier League opener, in Chennai, on Friday.
The dew factor will go out of the window but the searing heat will be an issue when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on a better prepared Rajasthan Royals in the first of the 10 IPL double-headers, in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.
Captain Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers smashed brisk half centuries to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore to a well-deserved 13-run victory over Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League match, in Pune, on Friday.
Phenomenal hitting by Chris Gayle and a brilliant batting at the rear by AB de Villiers and Saurabh Tiwary capped a fantastic chase by Royal Challengers Bangalore as they beat Pune Warriors by six wickets in an IPL match in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli described team-mate AB de Villiers's stunning match-winning knock of 89 not out from just 41 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL match as one of the best Twenty20 innings he has seen.
Skipper Virat Kohli blasted his second successive fifty and pacer Mitchell Starc picked up three wickets as Royal Challengers Bangalore notched up a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their IPL encounter in Ahmedabad.
Royal Challengers Bangalore were forced to share points with Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match after heavy downpour led to match being called off.
The BCCI also wrote a few words wishing luck to the former SA captain.
Humiliated in their previous face-off this season, table toppers Rajasthan Royals will be desperate to seek revenge against a resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore in Wednesday's Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Sharjah, on Saturday.
AB de Villiers might have turned out to be the hero for Royal Challengers Bangalore in their five-wicket win over Deccan Chargers on Sunday, but the South African instead lavished praise on openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chris Gayle for setting up the platform for the run chase.
Game 6 in IPL 2021 will see the Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai.
AB de Villiers blazed his way to the second fastest fifty in this edition of the Indian Premier League before KP Appanna did a star turn with the ball to help Royal Challengers Bangalore post a convincing 46-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Monday.
Needing 165 to beat Rajasthan, Bangalore were cruising at 75 for one in the ninth over with de Villiers (53) and Parthiv Patel (33) well set before the wheels came off their chase courtesy of some poor shot selections by subsequent batsmen.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batting has been on fire with captain Virat Kohli leading the charge with a record-breaking spree but leggie Yuzuvendra Chahal feels his side's bowlers have also played a crucial role in the team's turnaround.
Rajneesh Gupta presents a complete statistical IPL dossier.
An upbeat Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to carry on their winning momentum to book a berth in the play-offs when they take on an equally-keen Royal Challengers Bangalore in a crucial IPL match at Uppal, in Hyderabad, on Friday.
'As a 36-year-old to come here, having not played a lot of cricket, in the middle of some talented youngsters -- was a pleasing start'
"Maxi has taken to this team like a duck to water. AB loves the team and they were the difference today," Kohli said, at the post-match presentation.
Mumbai Indians had an off day on the field with below par bowling and catching performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Rajasthan Royals, who have won their last two games, will look for another victory against RCB and keep their hopes alive of making it to the IPL play-offs.
The destructive show of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers during their first meeting of Indian Premier League 9 still fresh in his mind, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody said he has a few ideas up his sleeve to stop the marauding Royal Challengers Bangalore duo.
AB de villiers enthralled the crowd with a whirlwind unbeaten 39-ball 90 to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to a convincing six-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining slow over rate during the team's Indian Premier League game against Rising Pune Supergiants.
Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday suffered a major setback as wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament due to hand injury, which requires surgery.
AB de Villiers demolished KKR with a magnificent unbeaten 73 from just 33 balls.
A clinical Rajasthan Royals shot out Royal Challengers Bangalore for a paltry 70, the third lowest total in the Indian Premier League history, and then romped to a six-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell attributed his return to form to IPL teammates Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, saying he has reaped rich dividends by spending time with the duo during his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the UAE.
Royal Challengers head coach Simon Katich was all praise for the South African after he single-handedly won the IPL game against Rajasthan Royals for them, in Dubai on Saturday.
Misfiring Mumbai Indians, struggling to get their team combination right, will take on the formidable batting might of Royal Challengers Bangalore in a potentially explosive Indian Premier League clash at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai. On Wednesday.
Virat Kohli, on Thursday, launched the jersey of his team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, with the dashing Chris Gayle.
Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Ravi Rampaul believes the team has enough batting firepower to win matches even if explosive opener Chris Gayle fails with the bat.
AB de Villiers, called time on his illustrious international career, claiming to be 'out of gas' after 14 years in the top league.
'Been playing around with the guys a bit, I'm also feeling like a young kid ready to go again, very excited to play cricket again.'
AB de Villiers seems to make it a habit of being spectacular in whatever he does on a cricket field and the talismanic South African's gravity-defying catch in Thursday's Indian Premier League (IPL) match only added to his legend.
Images from Friday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad, in Abu Dhabi.
'He alluded to being concerned about coming in ahead of other players who have been a part of the system. I don't think it sat well with him, which I understand.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances