IPL 2025: AB de Villiers feels THIS player will play a big role for RCB in final

In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru came victorious by eight wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

Rajat Patidar and his men have now sealed the IPL 2025 final berth, which is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3.

Ahead of the final, former RCB teammate and South African cricketer AB de Villiers feels stalwart Virat Kohli is going to play a big hand in the title clash.

“The ultimate team man, and he looks very, very focused. Obviously, the job`s not done yet, but I`m very excited to watch him play. I have no doubt in my mind he`s going to play a big hand in the final,” AB de Villiers said on JioHotstar.

The South African also stated that he saw Virat Kohli very focused at the time he stepped out of the bus ahead of Qualifier 1 against Punjab.

“The first time I saw him on the screen for PBKS vs RCB game, was when he got out of the bus, and I just saw a lot of focus in that guy. That`s the typical kind of body language we`re so used to seeing. And what I love most about this is he didn`t score runs today, but we still saw him right till the end, celebrating with the batters,” said the 41-year-old.

The former cricketer urged fans to forget about the past two seasons when the RCB reached the finals in 2011 and 2016.

“I think 2011 was a really good chance to win the title. Everyone talks about the 2016 season, but let`s forget about the past. Where are RCB now? In another final, 2025. It`s closer than you think and smaller than you think,” said de Villiers.

Further, he stated that RCB got the right mix during the auction. He also added that RCB has a healthy environment, as all the players contributed to the team`s victory on different occasions.

“So hopefully those little moments will go in RCB`s favour, come the 3rd of June. It was around the auction time when I felt like RCB really got the balance right this year. It`s not a one-dimensional batting line-up, not a one-dimensional bowling line-up — there are options. I just loved the look of that squad when I saw it come out. They found a way to gel together as a unit. As you can see, all the players individually chipped in at times, and that is a sign of a healthy environment,” concluded the veteran of 78 T20I matches.

(With PTI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day