As Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up for their most anticipated IPL final in years, one of their greatest icons, AB de Villiers, has delivered a heartfelt message to Virat Kohli and the RCB faithful. With the grand finale against Punjab Kings just hours away at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, de Villiers called on Kohli to savour the moment and urged fans to rally behind the team like never before.
Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB stormed into the final after a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. On the other side, Shreyas Iyer’s PBKS are also chasing their maiden title. Both teams, despite being founding members of the IPL, are yet to taste championship glory, setting up a blockbuster finale with history on the line.
In a special video shared by Star Sports on X (formerly Twitter), AB de Villiers had a simple but powerful message for his long-time friend and former teammate. “My message to Virat is to go out and enjoy and have fun out there. Put a smile on your face. I will be there watching you. Bring that trophy home. Enjoy every minute of it,” he said.
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He also reminded RCB fans to buckle up for what promises to be an unforgettable showdown. “To the fans, just buckle up. It’s going to be a great final. It’s going to be one to remember. Just be sure that the boys will give their absolute best till the last ball,” he added.
As @RCBTweets gear up for the ultimate clash with Punjab Kings, @ABdeVilliers17 sends his love and support to @imVkohli and the incredible RCB fans #TATAIPL#IPLFinal 👉 #RCBvPBKS | TUE, 3rd June, 5 PM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/yAsJSUerVV
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 2, 2025
Adding to the excitement, Chris Gayle—who has donned the jerseys of both RCB and PBKS in the past—confirmed his presence for the final, stating, “En route to support my two former teams RCB & PBKS in the IPL finals.”
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The nostalgia is unmistakable. Gayle, de Villiers, and Kohli once formed one of the most destructive batting line-ups in IPL history. Their last final appearance together was in 2016, when RCB fell short against SunRisers Hyderabad.
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This year, Kohli has once again led by example, amassing 614 runs at an average of 55.81 and a strike rate of 146.53. His eight fifties have all come in winning causes, underlining his importance. With previous final defeats in 2009, 2011, and 2016 haunting him, Kohli will be desperate to lift the elusive IPL trophy.
Having already delivered in global ICC tournaments, the IPL is the final piece in his glittering career puzzle. And on Tuesday, he’ll have the chance to complete it.
