IPL 2022: I got very emotional – says Virat Kohli after AB de Villiers revealed his retirement plan

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli shares a great bonhomie with AB de Villiers. Both of these players are known to be great mates on and off the field and have shared many memorable moments together for the franchise. Kohli revealed he got very emotional when the South African told him about his retirement plan.

AB decided to call it a day from all forms of cricket in November 2021 and thus he isn’t part of the RCB squad. Kohli stated that if RCB manages to win the IPL title this season or the next, he will remember AB de Villiers a lot.

Kohli has shared a lot of ups and downs with AB de Villiers and the duo was always instrumental in RCB’s success over the years in the IPL. But they could not lift the coveted trophy together for the franchise. Kohli feels it’s a strange feeling for him to not have AB de Villiers in RCB’s dressing room.

Virat Kohli said on RCB’s Twitter post, “It is very strange, I mean. I clearly remember when he decided to finally call it a day, he sent me a voice note. And, I still remember we were coming back from Dubai after the World Cup, and I got this voice note, and we were driving back home. I got the voice note, I opened it and listened to it. Anushka was with me and I looked at her like this.”

Kohli also revealed his wife Anushka Sharma’s reaction when he told her about AB’s retirement decision.

“The first thing she said was, don’t tell me. She knew. I kind of had the impression during the last IPL. He kept telling me, our rooms were next to each other. I want to see you for coffee one of these days. I kept getting nervous, I was like I am not sitting with you, I think there’s something coming,” he said.

He said, “I just want to sit and chat with you, it’s been a while.” And he never speaks like that, you know, because we interact all the time. I knew something was brewing up. It’s a very strange feeling, I got very emotional, the voice note was very emotional as well for me when he said I don’t have it in me anymore.”

Kohli stated that AB de Villiers has contributed to his life a lot and played a key role in his career at the RCB.

“I have shared so many moments with him, highs and lows, everything, he’s been right next to me through thick and thin. I was thinking about him the other day that if we manage to win the title in the coming seasons, this one, next one, whatever it is. I would be very emotional thinking about him first, rather than you know what I would experience after such hard work of so many years.” Kohli added.

“I would actually think how much it would still mean to him, watching from home. He’s a special human being, he’s touched everyone’s lives here, we can all vouch for that, he’s been amazing. I don’t think there’s one person who can say AB has not contributed to my life some way or the other.”

AB de Villiers said: “I know I’m not gonna go anywhere, I’m gonna be an RCBian for life. Every single person in the RCB setup has become family to me. I’ve spent a lot of time together now, some people come, some go. But that RCB franchise, and the spirit and the love we have for each other will always remain. All the very best team RCB.

RCB lost their opening match of the season against PBKS by five wickets.