Will IPL 2025 Be the Year for RCB? AB de Villiers Supports His Former Team to Break the Title Drought

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- AB de Villiers believes this could be RCB's year to win their first IPL title.
- RCB has shown outstanding form throughout the season.
- Key contributions from players like Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood have been crucial.
- The finals will be a test against formidable opponents.
- Anticipation builds as RCB aims to break their title drought.
Mumbai, May 31 (NationPress) Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has expressed his confidence in his old IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), stating that they could finally secure their first championship this year after a decisive victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday.
This season, RCB has showcased exceptional performance, remaining unbeaten in all their away matches. They concluded the league phase with 19 points, securing the second position in the points table.
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have been the standout performers with the bat, scoring 614 and 387 runs respectively. They have received solid support from middle-order batsmen including captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya.
On the bowling side, Josh Hazlewood leads the wicket-taking chart for RCB with 21 wickets in 11 matches, followed closely by Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, both with 15 wickets, and Yash Dayal with 12 wickets, contributing to a well-rounded team.
"I am thrilled to see RCB in the finals. With MI winning last night, the upcoming qualifier between Punjab and MI will be an exciting knockout match. I eagerly await the final, and I genuinely hope this is the year for RCB," De Villiers stated during a press conference in Mumbai.
The legendary player predicted that Punjab Kings would face RCB in the final but expressed some reservations after witnessing the strong performance of the Mumbai Indians against the Gujarat Titans, which led to their elimination from the tournament on Friday.
"I had earlier predicted that Punjab and RCB would reach the finals. However, MI is looking quite formidable right now, which makes my prediction seem less likely. But in cricket, anything can happen. It only takes a couple of outstanding performances to shift the momentum. I still think it will be Punjab, but I have my doubts after last night’s match," he added.
Punjab Kings are set to clash with Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with the winner earning a spot in the IPL 2025 final against RCB on June 3 at the same venue.