IPL 2022 | AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle inducted into RCB's 'Hall of Fame'

The South African batting legend AB de Villiers and Jamaican superstar Chris Gayle joined their former teammates via video conferencing and were honoured with RCB's Hall of Fame for their never-forgotten contributions to the franchise. The duo also became the first inductees after RCB introduced their ‘Hall of Fame’ to acknowledge the contribution of the players who have been a part of the franchise. 

The official Twitter handle of RCB uploaded a video where the entire Red brigade can be seen assembled for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Before the announcements, former RCB skipper Virat Kohli and the team's Director of Cricket, Mike Hesson, gave emotional speeches in their honour. Both the legends were then gifted with beautiful gold-plated mementoes bearing their names and jersey numbers. 

Sun has moved on for Chris and me now, but we're still very much a family: AB de Villiers 

"To the RCB boys sitting there, what an amazing privilege. I am quite emotional, to be honest. I have been a little bit out of cricket, as you know and just watching you boys on TV just last while really gets me excited about things that are coming this season. Virat, thanks for the kind words. 

“Mike, Nikhil, and everyone from the franchise who set this up. It's really special. We had some amazing time together as a team, and the sun has moved on for Chris and me now, but we are still very much a family, and we will always be. Thank you very much for the very special touch," de Villiers said.

Will always keep RCB close to my heart: Chris Gayle

"I wanted to thank the RCB franchise for everything. It's been really special for me as well to be inducted into something fantastic and I will always keep RCB close to my heart. I share a lot of memories with some special players and some special coaches as well. It's been fantastic. I wish I was there to give this speech. As AB mentioned, it's a bit emotional as well because it's very touching for such a franchise that they have created over the years," Gayle said in his speech.

Both AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle are regarded as two of the greatest to ever feature in the history of the Indian Premier League. Coming to numbers, de Villiers, the second-highest run-getter for RCB in the history of the tournament, amassed 5162 runs at an average of 39.70 and a strike rate of 151.68, including 3 centuries and 40 fifties.

West Indies legendary batter Chris Gayle joined RCB in 2011 and played for the franchise till 2017. During his stay at the franchise, he smacked 3420 runs in 91 games at an average of 43.29 and strike rate of 154.40, including 5 brilliant centuries and 21 half-centuries. He also smashed the phenomenal 175* runs while playing for RCB, which is the highest individual score in the tournament's history.