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IPL 2018 | New Royal Challengers Bangalore is exciting: AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli has said he is desperate to win the IPL trophy.

IPL 2018 | New Royal Challengers Bangalore is exciting: AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers (L) Virat Kohli (R) (Photo: Twitter)

Star South Africa batsman AB de Villiers praised the new Royal Challengers Bangalore squad ahead of their first clash with Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders in the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).

Writing in his column for Times of India, De Villiers said the ongoing season of the cash-rich league was his eighth with RCB.

“This may be the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League, and my eighth campaign with RCB, but the general level of anticipation already seems greater than ever. Each year, the IPL feels bigger and brighter… it is a global sporting phenomenon,” De Villers wrote in TOI.

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De Villiers, who is also popularly known as Mr 360 because of his ability to hit the ball anywhere on the ground, is also hopeful of winning the IPL trophy.

“The RCB class of 2018 is exciting, a balance of youth and experience, fresh and resolved to delight our supporters around the country, to realise our potential on the field and, hopefully, to take the trophy,” De Villiers further writes.

Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has said he is desperate to win the IPL trophy.

Virat Kohli said he is “120 percent” committed to leading the franchise to their maiden IPL win.

Talking about the current RCB squad, Virat called the team “most balanced” ever.

Though RCB had failed in lifting the IPL trophy, the team had finished runners-up thrice – in 2009, 2011 and 2016.

“More than the fans, I want to win the cup,” Kohli was quoted as saying to www.royalchallengers.com.

“I have been with Bangalore for last 10 years and we haven’t crossed the final hurdle three times.”

“I can assure you, my commitment is going to be 120 percent to try and achieve the goal this time.”

In the much-talked-about IPL players’ auction, RCB have significantly strengthened their bowling and batting attack.

RCB have the world-class batting talent in the form of Kohli, Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers.

In the bowling department, New Zealand seamer Tim Southee and England’s Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali have been brought in to support the talented Indian bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar and Pawan Negi.

“The auction has gone pretty well for us,” Kohli said, adding, “I think we have one of the most balanced side we have had in many years. That pleases me a lot as a captain.

“We are not relying on one skill or the other. I think it is a great balance of spinners, fast bowlers, couple of all-rounders, spinning all-rounders, fast bowling all-rounders.”

“The batting has been strong point for RCB over the years, but I think the strengthening of bowling department has been a massive boost for us from this auction. I am very optimistic about our chances heading into this IPL.”

Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers will begin their IPL campaign against Dinesh Karthik’s Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on April 8.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Chris Woakes, Yuzvendra Singh Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Brendon McCullum, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Quinton De Kock, Mohammed Siraj, Corey Anderson, Colin De Grandhomme, M. Ashwin, Parthiv Patel, Moeen Ali, Mandeep Singh, Manan Vohra, Pawan Negi, Tim Southee, Kulwant Khejroliya, Aniket Choudhary, Pavan Deshpande, Anirudha Ashok Joshi

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