IPL 2022: AB de Villiers backs Virat Kohli to score over 600 runs this season
India Today
IPL 2022: Former Royal Challengers Bangalore batter AB de Villiers has backed ex-teammate and RCB star Virat Kohli to score above 600-plus runs in the ongoing IPL 2022.
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore star batter Ab de Villiers believes that Virat Kohli will have a fantastic season with the bat and score over 600-plus runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
AB de Villiers was one of the pillars of the Kohli-led RCB in his prime. The camaraderie between de Villiers and Kohli grew with each new season, with the two modern-day greats sharing mutual respect and admiration for each other on numerous occasions. AB de Villiers, a fan favourite in the Bangalore team during his playing days, has retired from competitive cricket but continues to support the RCB from afar.
"Everyone knows about Faf du Plessis coming in as captain. I think the most exciting thing for me is Virat not being captain and releasing a bit of the pressure, really just going out there and freeing up. I am expecting a very big season from Virat. I am thinking 600+ runs from him this year," AB de Villiers said on the YouTube channel VUSport Streaming.
Notably, Kohli hit a 29-ball 41 not out as RCB posted 205, only to end up losing their IPL 2022 campaign opener to PBKS, who gunned down the total in just 19 overs. Kohli looked brisk and took on the spinners, who have been troubling him over the last few seasons in the IPL.
The ex-RCB batter also opened up on the appointment of his compatriot Faf du Plessis as the new captain of the Bangalore team and said that the RCB skipper would allow his star batter, Kohli, to go out and enjoy the league.
"He (Kohli) will be in Faf's ear, but Faf is also very experienced as well. He has got good cricketing training on him and he would allow Virat and some of the youngsters to just go and free up, and just enjoy the IPL.
"I don’t know what to expect (from RCB) but I expect some individuals to really rise in this IPL from the RCB setup," De Villiers added.
