In a touching gesture, former South Africa the cricket legend AB de Villiers sent heartfelt birthday wishes to ex Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate Virat Kohliwho turned 36 on Tuesday, November 5. Known for their strong bond on and off the field, de Villiers and Kohli were integral to RCB’s success and shared a camaraderie that fans adored.
A warm birthday post for an old teammate
“Happy birthday, my Cookie! I wish you an incredible year ahead, filled with love, success and many more undefeated centuries. May this year bring you all you desire and more,“, de Villiers wrote in his post.
Happy birthday, my Cookie! I wish you an incredible year ahead, filled with love, success and many more undefeated centuries ✨
I hope this year brings you everything you want and more ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9l9hmgZJ9U
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 5, 2024
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A legendary duo in the Indian Premier League
Both De Villiers and Kohli were instrumental in shaping RCB’s journey to the Indian Premier League (IPL)creating some memorable moments for fans. Kohli, who has been with RCB since the inception of the league, played alongside De Villiers from 2011 to 2021. South Africa first joined the IPL in 2008 with Capitals of Delhi but moved to RCB in 2011, where he stayed until he retired from the IPL after the 2021 season.
Their partnership was one of the most prolific in IPL history, amassing a record 3,123 runs together. IPL and RCB fans continue to remember the duo’s epic performances and their seamless synergy at the end, even after de Villiers’ retirement.
Record-breaking partnerships and friendships beyond cricket
One of the most memorable moments in the history of their partnership came in the 2015 IPL season when de Villiers and Kohli scored a record 215 runs against Mumbai Indiansmarking the highest partnership in an innings at that time. They surpassed their record a year later, setting a new mark with a partnership of 229 runs against Gujarat Lionsa record that still stands as the highest partnership in an IPL innings.
