South African legend AB de Villiers has thrown his support behind Virat Kohli, calling him the “ultimate team man” and backing him to play a crucial role in the IPL 2025 final as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) chase their elusive maiden title.
RCB stormed into the final after crushing Punjab Kings by eight wickets in the first qualifier on Thursday. Chasing a modest target of 102, RCB’s dominant win came despite Kohli scoring just 12 runs. However, De Villiers believes the Indian superstar is primed for a big performance in the title clash on June 3 in Ahmedabad.
“The first time I saw him in the PBKS vs RCB game, he was getting off the team bus — and there was that intense focus we’ve come to expect from him,” De Villiers told JioHotstar.
“He didn’t score today, but what stood out was how present and involved he was — cheering his teammates, staying until the last run was scored. That’s who Virat is — the ultimate team man. He’s very focused, and I have no doubt he’ll make a major impact in the final.”
RCB has been part of the IPL since its inception in 2008 and reached the final three times, but the title has eluded them so far. Reflecting on the team’s journey, De Villiers remained hopeful.
“People often talk about 2016, but I felt 2011 was a really good opportunity too. Still, the past is the past. Where are RCB now? In the 2025 final. They’ve built a team with real balance — not one-dimensional anymore. There’s depth in both the batting and bowling departments,” he said.
“The way the squad came together after the auction impressed me. You can see that every player has contributed at some point — and that speaks to a healthy, united dressing room.”
Pace ace Josh Hazlewood made a strong comeback after missing a few matches, picking up 3/21 and delivering a spell of high-quality fast bowling. RCB opener Phil Salt highlighted Hazlewood’s value to the team.
“Josh is huge for us — not just with his bowling, which is consistently world-class — but also with his presence. He’s a calming influence in the bowling group,” Salt said.
“He and Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] offer that steadying hand. Having Josh back, fit and firing, is the cherry on top.”
RCB now prepares to face their final hurdle on June 3, with a title win in sight and belief running high within the squad.
