'Will give Kohli a big hug' - AB de Villiers reveals plans if RCB win IPL 2025

South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has expressed his excitement ahead of the IPL 2025 final by stating that he will celebrate if Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifts their maiden IPL trophy by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The former RCB stalwart formed an impressive partnership with Virat Kohli during his playing days and revealed that he will make every effort to join the celebrations and personally congratulate Kohli.

"I will celebrate & try and get into the change room somehow - Just to give Virat a Big Hug," de Villiers told Cricket.com.

RCB booked their place in the final after a dominant performance against PBKS in Qualifier 1 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. However, PBKS bounced back strongly, defeating five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on June 1 to secure a spot in the final.

The former South Africa international, who scored over 5,000 runs in the IPL, remains an iconic figure in the league. His memorable partnerships with Kohli helped set numerous records, and he continues to give his support to the team even after retirement. Kohli has been in excellent form throughout IPL 2025, scoring 614 runs at an impressive average of 55.81. He is currently fifth in the Orange Cap race.

RCB entered the tournament under new leadership, with Rajat Patidar at the front. They finished second on the points table with 19 points and reached the final for the first time in nine years. On the other hand, PBKS was captained by Shreyas Iyer, also made a remarkable comeback this season. Under his captaincy, the team reached the playoffs after 11 years and finished at the top of the table.

Both franchises are aiming for their first-ever title in the marquee event, which started in 2008. After 18 seasons of the cash-rich league, the IPL 2025 will finally see a new champion crowned.