IPL 2024: 'Hopefully we go from strength to strength', AB de Villiers backs RCB to clinch maiden title

Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) can go all the way this season and win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. RCB, led by another South African in Faf du Plessis, begin their IPL 2024 season with an away clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday. In the last 16 seasons of the IPL, RCB have reached the final thrice but have ended up as the losing side on all three occasions.

De Villiers noted that the RCB women’s team, led by Smriti Mandhana, have broken the shackles and even one victory would lead to many more victories for the men’s team in the upcoming season.

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“I really do believe we can win it. We will win it this year. Look, you’ve got to be  patient. Sport is a funny thing. Cricket is not predictable, otherwise it would have been boring,” De Villiers said during a panel discussion at the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit in New Delhi. The panel discussion also had Brett Lee, Aakash Chopra and Anjum Chopra taking part.

De Villiers, who played 157 matches for RCB from 2011 to 2021, believes RCB can go from strength to strength this season.  “I think the women have broken the shackles, and once RCB gets one win, there’s going to be quite a few wins back-to-back. So, hopefully we go from strength to strength this season,” he said.

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Former Australia pacer Brett Lee agreed with de Villiers, saying that RCB had a “very good chance” of winning the IPL.

“I was actually going through a list of teams of 10 franchises, and not because he (AB de Villiers) is sitting next to me, but I think RCB have a very good chance this year. I would not back against them.

RCB officially announced a change of name from Bangalore to Bengaluru, and also unveiled a brand new jersey with blue and red colours. Lee feels a change of name and jersey could bring RCB some good fortunes. “They have arguably had the best side for a number of years, but maybe the different ways they are playing and over here in India, there’s a lot of superstitions, the change of the name, the change of the colour of the clothing. This could be their year,” added the 47-year-old.