IPL 2020: AB de Villiers has admitted that he is as nervous as any other batsman while chasing but did open up about Virat Kohli’s guidance that drove the two-star players into chasing it down.
RCB’s AB de Villiers smashed a 22-ball 55* against RR. (Courtesy of BCCI)
HIGHLIGHTS
- RCB’s AB de Villiers smashed a 22-ball 55* against RR
- Virat Kohli said “we got AB’d there” at the post-match presentation
- RCB won the game by 7 wickets and 19 balls remaining
As Virat Kohli rightfully put “we got AB’d there” at the post-match presentation, Rajasthan Royals totally got bamboozled by the star South African batsman. Steve Smith’s bowling attack couldn’t hold the defence together as it kept slipping away under AB de Villiers’s charge in taking RCB to a smooth victory against RR in Dubai.
The former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who scored an ecstatic 22-ball 55* and duly bagged the Man of the Match award, expressed his immense joy in helping the team win. Like a responsible vice-ca[tain, AB de Villiers pointed out the team’s shortcomings, especially in the bowling that leaked unnecessary runs in the 1st innings, from the particular game in Dubai. However, ‘Alien’ de Villiers also admitted that it was the skipper Virat Kohli and him who decided to string partnerships and see the chase.
“Extremely happy. Thought we didn’t bowl well, to be honest. Leaked some silly things. Couple of no-balls which Yuzi [Yuzvendra Chahal] doesn’t do. But Virat and I spoke that we string together some partnerships and then go ahead. I’m very very nervous and erratic [in chase] and I get very stressed like any player. Want to perform for my team. want to show owners I’m here for a good reason,” Man of the Match AB de Villiers said at the post-match presentation.
“Family watching, fans, all those things play a big part. Never think about it like that. I try to stick to my gameplans. It’s a cat and mouse game. Honestly, I didn’t hit any one of them in the middle, but close enough to the middle. Luckily I got a couple over and made him nervous. We’ve had some good games, have had some average games as well. Have had six really good games in this tournament so far. Plenty of reason to be positive.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore rattled Rajasthan Royals, by a margin of 7 wickets and 2 balls remaining, in the 33rd IPL 2020 fixture.