‘It Will Be Bigger Than…’: Ab De Villiers Reacts To Possibility Of Rohit Sharma Playing For RCB In IPL 2025 – News18

Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has been associated with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL since 2011 and has led them to five IPL titles. He was appointed as the team’s captain midway through the 2013 season and remained at the helm till the 2023 season. Under his leadership, MI won IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. The 37-year-old right-handed batter was shockingly replaced as MI captain last year, and since then reports of Rohit leaving MI are making headlines.

He finished as the top scorer for Mumbai in the IPL 2024, which many assumed was his last season with the Mumbai-based franchise. There are multiple reports that state that Rohit will not be retained by MI, and amid news of Rohit leaving MI, many former greats and fans want him to join RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction and lead the side.

Reacting to the news of Rohit playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025, former South African cricketer and legendary batter Ab de Villiers, during a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, said that if Rohit moves to RCB then it will be a bigger story than Hardik joining MI from Gujarat Titans last year in an all-cash trade deal.

“I almost laughed at the Rohit comment. That will be quite a story if Rohit moves from Mumbai Indians to RCB. Wow! Imagine the headlines. It will be bigger than Hardik Pandya’s move. He moved from the Gujarat Titans back to Mumbai, which although wasn’t a big surprise. But if Rohit moves from Mumbai to join his rivals in RCB…oh my god!” De Villiers said during a live Q&A session on YouTube.

He, however, doesn’t think that it is going to happen.

“I don’t think there is an option there. I don’t see a possibility of MI leaving Rohit. I will give that zero or 0.1 percent chance,” he added.

De Villiers also backed Faf du Plessis to continue his association with RCB and lead the Bengaluru-based franchise in the 2025 edition. Faf, who joined RCB in the IPL 2022 mega auction, is 40 years old, and many fans believe RCB will release him.

“Age is just a number, guys. I don’t see why his turning 40 would be an issue. He has been there for a few seasons, and the players are used to him. I understand there has been pressure on him because he hasn’t won the trophy for RCB, but he has been exceptional as a player. I think Virat will back him with all his experience,” he added.