Royal Challengers Bangalore legends Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers time and time again have batted like a dream together in the Indian Premier League. The twosome has helped revolutionised T20 cricket with their breathtaking batting over the years. When the two bat in tandem you just can’t take your eyes off as they match each other shots per shots in the biggest T20 extravaganza in the world.
Two wizards who have contrasting styles but share familiar quality and that is to make runs anywhere and everywhere. It’s like watching a tennis match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Cricket fans are extremely lucky as they saw two of the greatest batsman of all time play together every year at the summit of their careers.
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Ab de Villiers is the ultimate freak as the South African has the capability of scoring at every corner of the ground. He can reverse scoop a fast bowler over the third man for a six and in the next ball he could slog sweep him on the roof of the stadium.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, is textbook and completely the opposite as he will initially take his time, pinch those singles and doubles and then put the hammer down. The Bangalore skipper will score at a strike of over 150 by playing proper cricketing shots and can deposit the bowlers regularly in the stand. Virat will hit all his shots in front of the wicket in the V whereas, ABD will score behind the wicket and leave everybody spellbound.
Here are some of the greatest partnerships Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have shared in their nine years journey in the IPL:
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5. 118 vs Delhi Capitals (2018)
Royal Challengers Bangalore were up against Delhi Capitals at their home ground and they had to win this. After losing two early wickets in a tricky run chase the two powerhouses joined each other in the middle. Both weathered the early storm and then played some scintillating shots.
The crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla got their money’s worth as they saw a memorable partnership between Virat and AB. The two complimented each other extremely well and helped Bangalore get home. The partnership of 118 runs kept RCB alive in the competition as they won the match by 5 wickets.
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4. 157 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016)
The two finalists of IPL 2016 faced off in Hyderabad in a crucial match. Batting first has always been RCB’s nemesis as they had earlier lost matches while setting a target. The quality pace attack of Sunrisers rocked early as they lost Chris Gayle early. AB and Virat were once again in the thick of action straightaway. The two decided to play their natural games early and put the bowlers under pressure.
The home crowd would also switch their sided seeing the quality of batsmanship of the two. As the chants of Kohli and AB de Villiers erupted at the home of Sunrisers. The star duo put on a marvellous 157 run standoff just 87 which helped RCB post a mammoth total of 227.
The Royal Challengers, as a result, won the match comprehensively on the back of this majestic partnership.
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3. 115 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2016)
2016 was by far the best season for the RCB franchise in IPL history. Both AB and Virat were in the form of their lives and were scoring runs without any fuss. Kolkata Knight Riders were playing at their fortress Eden Gardens and at the halfway mark they were in the driver’s seat.
They set RCB a stiff target of 184 runs which seemed tricky considering the quality of their bowling line up. AB and Virat had plans of their own as they took the game away from them and entertained everyone at the gardens. They put on an unbeaten partnership of 115 runs in which Kohli scored 79 while AB de Villiers chipped in with 59 runs.
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2. 215 vs Mumbai Indians (2015)
The iconic Wankhade stadium in the venue was the venue as Mumbai Indians took on RCB. A famous rivalry in the IPL with big names playing on either side. Great players raise their game when they up against quality opposition and Virat and AB did just that. The two would burst MI’s bubble and dominate them at their home ground.
Virat initially gave the strike and AB went berserk, he would play some of the most astonishing shots that anyone could ever imagine. Virat also went into overdrive and the two registered the first-ever 200 run partnership in IPL history.
AB went on and scored a dazzling 133 runs and at the other end, Virat Kohli stayed unbeaten on 82. Mumbai had no answers against the two icons as a partnership of 215 unbeaten runs took RCB to a total of 236 which ultimately proved too much to chase.
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1. 229 runs vs Gujarat Lions (2016)
Appearing in at number 1 is one of the most spectacular T20 partnership of all time. Diwali was celebrated 6 months before the actual date as Virat Kohli and AB put on a partnership for the ages. This is the highest partnership of all time in IPL history. Gujarat Lions were stunned for the entire time and all their bowlers were travelling outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium regularly.
The two legends became the first pair to score a hundred in the same innings of the IPL. The range of shots that were on display from the two batsmen was of the highest order. Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a massive total of 248 as AB de Villiers scored 129 and Virat Kohli 109 in the epic innings.