De Villiers was set to lead the side in Kohli's absence but the South African was ruled out of the team's opening game of the season on Wednesday.
It is his 100th Test appearance and AB de Villiers's family made sure they were all with him in Bengaluru on his special day.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) named a 30-member provisional squad, on Thursday, with no surprise inclusion or exclusion, for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September.
The Indian bowlers had a torrid time against South African batting line-up led by AB de Villiers but senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has said he "enjoyed the challenge" as he managed to hold his own for the better part of the limited overs series.
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.
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers was a relieved man after his side secured a semi-final berth in the Champions Trophy as this time the Proteas managed to read correctly the Duckworth/Lewis sheet.
Virat Kohli said that both he and AB de Villiers feel that this could be the 'breakthrough season' when tables will turn for the franchise which has flattered to deceive on many occasions.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers tried to put up a brave front as he informed that his premier fast bowler Dale Steyn is a doubtful starter against India in the opening group league encounter of the ICC Champions Trophy in Cardiff, on Thursday.
Virat Kohli's golden run with the bat in IPL sees him lead the MVP rankings in the ongoing IPL, with RCB team mate AB de Villiers a distant second. Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji anaylse the players' performance in Rediff.com's Most Valuable Players ratings.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Pune Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore, on Thursday.
The Proteas bowlers took part in a thorough session under the watchful eyes of Langeveldt with the aim of increasing their workloads and mapping out expectations and game plans ahead of the 72-day tour which starts with the first Twenty20 match in Dharamsala on October 2.
We know that Chennai are a very good and tough team to beat, says AB de Villiers.
South Africa's ODI and T20 skipper AB de Villiers has said the Proteas are relishing the opportunity of defending their World No.1 Test crown for the first time on Australian soil.
'Getting Virat Kohli and AB Villiers in same match is a dream for any youngster. It is the best moment of my cricketing career and definitely one of biggest moments of my IPL cricket'
AB de Villiers survived being dropped early to smash a series-winning unbeaten 95 for South Africa who beat Pakistan by six wickets in the deciding match of their One-day international series on Sunday.
Warner would be looking to make the most of the early start and put runs on the board again.
A record-breaking batting display from centurions Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers took South Africa to a 34-run win over Pakistan in the third One-Day International on Sunday.
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma was lavish in praise of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya after Mumbai edged past Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in the IPL match in Bengaluru on Thursday night.
Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared an unbroken stand of 172 to steer South Africa to comfortable seven-wicket win over England in the fifth and final One-day International in Nottingham on Wednesday.
AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla produced knocks in the 90s after South Africa had been in early trouble on the first day of the third Test against Pakistan on Friday.
South Africa have retained Faf du Plessis as captain of their T20 squad for the two-match cricket series against Pakistan starting on March 1 after AB de Villiers asked not to be considered for the role.
Robin Peterson and AB de Villiers hauled South Africa back into the game on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday.
South Africa were given a glimpse of what they have been missing as De Villiers flayed Bangladesh's attack with stunning ease on his way to a career-best one-day international score on Wednesday.
AB De Villiers required just 31 balls for his genius to propel him to the fastest ever one-day international century, a matchless masterclass that left even Chris Gayle bowing in admiration as South Africa walloped West Indies on Sunday.
Cricket South Africa is hopeful the unique format may catch on, though for many the jury will be out as the slogathon produced entertainment off the bat
South Africa's skipper A B de Villiers is a satisfied man as his team beat World No 1 side 2-0 in the three-match ODI series. And AB de Villiers felt that his team ought to be proud of this achievement.
The question of whether AB de Villiers should keep wicket for South Africa in Tests may have been answered by his record-breaking performance in his team's 211-run win over Pakistan at the Wanderers.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on Thursday
South Africa captain AB de Villiers has been suspended for two ODIs while his teammates have been fined 100 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate during their one-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first ODI in Paarl.
South Africa are to gamble on the fitness of Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy, who were named on Wednesday in a 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next month.
South Africa have named fast bowler Dale Steyn in their 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in India next month, but will ask him to prove his fitness following a debilitating shoulder injury.
Jacques Kallis hit his second Test double century and AB de Villiers added a thrilling hundred before South Africa declared on 580 for four on the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Wednesday.
The South African opener took only 108 innings to reach the milestone, beating the previous record held by India's Virat Kohli, who took 133 innings for the same.
AB de Villiers has resigned as South Africa's Test captain, opening the way for childhood friend Faf du Plessis to take over on a permanent basis.
For ICC Women's Player of the Decade, Ellyse Perry (Australia), Meg Lanning (Australia), Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Mithali Raj (India), Sarah Taylor (England) have been nominated.
South Africa's AB de Villiers removed the question mark over whether he could bat while also keeping wicket with a storming 169 on Sunday to help his country to the brink of a series triumph over Australia.
A fired-up Australia attack skittled South Africa's top order late on the fourth day to march to the brink of victory in the second Test on Sunday. Set a mammoth target of 430 for victory, the tourists' chase began disastrously, captain Graeme Smith out for a duck with the sixth ball of the innings and three more wickets tumbling quickly in the afternoon heat at Adelaide Oval.
South Africa coach Mark Boucher says his side is using those to work on a new approach he hopes will reverse a slide in fortunes across all three formats for the side.
AB de Villiers blasted a whirlwind 17-ball 47 at the death after Tillakaratne Dilshan's 54-ball 71 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore notch up a sensational five-wicket victory over Deccan Chargers in their Indian Premier League match in Bangalore.
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.
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