‘Bengaluru changed my life’: AB de Villiers reflects on special bond with RCB fans

AB de Villiers talks about Bengaluru Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers says Bengaluru will always have a special place in his heart, describing the city as one that changed his life and gave him a connection with fans like he had never experienced before.Speaking on The Tech Word News’s Bombay Sports Exchange podcast, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend reflected on his 11-year association with the franchise and said the affection he got from the fans fulfilled a childhood dream.“Bengaluru is closest to my heart and will always remain so,” said de Villiers. “It’s a city that changed my life, so it will always have a special place in my heart.”De Villiers joined RCB in 2011 after spending three seasons with the Delhi franchise and quickly became one of the most popular players in the IPL. Along with Virat Kohli, he formed one of the most iconic batting partnerships in the league, carving out a permanent place in the hearts of Bengaluru fans despite the franchise’s long wait for its maiden IPL title.Looking back on his early days with RCB, de Villiers said he felt at home almost immediately.“Bengaluru is a very special city. It had a huge impact on my life. When I joined RCB in 2011, I immediately felt at home. It didn’t take long for the crowd to get behind me.”The 41-year-old recalled the first time he heard the crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium chanting his name and said it instantly took him back to his childhood.“Hearing them sing my name was one of those moments I dreamed about as a kid,” he said.“When I was six or seven years old, I was hitting tennis balls around the garage and imagining playing in front of huge crowds.“When the Bengaluru crowd started chanting my name for the first time, it was like a light bulb went on. I thought, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been dreaming of’.”According to de Villiers, this emotional bond was formed almost immediately and has only grown stronger over the years.“That connection with Bengaluru was immediate. The connection with India as a whole developed even further over the following years, especially around 2015 and 2016. But Bengaluru was where it all started.”Few overseas cricketers enjoy the kind of adulation that de Villiers continues to receive in India, with RCB supporters celebrating him even years after his retirement from the IPL.When asked why the Indian fans connected with him so deeply, the former South African captain admitted that he never fully understood it.“Honestly, I never really understood it. All I know is that it was incredibly special,” he said.“India has a deep love for cricket and competition. I think people appreciate players who compete with passion and genuine joy.”“Maybe that’s what people connected with. Maybe they also appreciated someone who always tried to stay positive.”While he can’t fully explain the relationship, de Villiers says it remains one of the greatest gifts of his career.“However it happened, I’m just grateful,” he said. “The connection I shared with the people of Bengaluru and with India as a whole is something I will always cherish.”