'Play For Rajasthan Now', Yuzvendra Chahal Urges AB de Villiers Ahead Of IPL 2024
ABD with Kohli and Chahal [X.com]
Former RCB star Yuzvendra Chahal playfully invited iconic South African batter AB de Villiers to join Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL 2024 edition. The light-hearted banter occurred during a nostalgic conversation on De Villiers' YouTube channel, where the two players recalled their formidable partnership at RCB.
Chahal's humorous plea adds an intriguing twist to the anticipation surrounding De Villiers' potential IPL comeback.
During the interaction, AB de Villiers playfully questioned whether he still had one more season left in him, prompting Chahal's cheeky response,
"Yeah, definitely, you can play for Rajasthan now."
The conversation took a nostalgic turn when De Villiers shared an anecdote about his recent net session with kids, wielding knee-high bats and rediscovering his striking prowess.
"Maybe I should take a few more hits and get a feel for it again," De Villiers mused.
Chahal, known for his wit, added a touch of humour to the exchange by assuring De Villiers that age is no barrier for a six-hitting maestro.
"Even at 50-60, you can hit sixes. There is no doubt," Chahal remarked, emphasising the timeless talent of the retired South African cricketer.
The banter took an exciting turn as Chahal, who began his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians, became a prominent figure at RCB, securing 139 wickets in 113 matches for the franchise.
Despite the camaraderie they shared at RCB, Chahal playfully diverted De Villiers' attention towards the Rajasthan Royals, the team he has been representing since his release from RCB before IPL 2022.
Chahal's move from RCB to Rajasthan Royals proved seamless, maintaining his stellar IPL performance. Securing 48 wickets in 31 games across the last two seasons with the Royals, Chahal has cemented his standing as a reliable leg-spinner in the league.
AB de Villiers in the IPL Spotlight
With 184 IPL matches under his belt, AB de Villiers has etched his name in IPL history, amassing an impressive 5162 runs. As the second-highest run-scorer for RCB, De Villiers' iconic status continues to resonate in the cricketing world. Last season, both De Villiers and Chris Gayle were honoured with induction into the RCB Hall Of Fame, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the franchise.
As the anticipation builds for IPL 2024, Chahal's invitation to De Villiers adds an extra layer of excitement, fuelling speculation about the South African legend's potential comeback in the world's premier T20 league.
 "Sumit Gupta")