IPL 2023: AB de Villiers assesses Royal Challengers Bangalore squad post mini-auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) concluded their final business ahead of the India Premier League 2023 (IPL) edition with seven new additions to their squad during the recent mini-auction on December 23. After finishing the 2022 edition on the third position, RCB managed to retain their core group of players by releasing only five players ahead of the IPL 2023 auction.

They entered the auction with a purse value of INR 8.75 crore and as expected didn't make much noise during the entire auction. With their preferred playing XI sorted out, RCB spent wisely and added batting all-rounder Will Jacks and English pacer Reece Topley.

Both English signings add a good balance to RCB's core set-up from the last edition. The legendary RCB batter AB de Villiers, while speaking to Jio Cinema, shared his thoughts on RCB's squad for the upcoming 2023 edition on Wednesday (December 28). He seemed happy with the new signings but added that the top order needs to fire if RCB want to change their old story.

"Yeah I like the look of this team that had a good season last year, they came close. There's a good balance, good backup, I just need a couple of guys in form. It's the same old story I think when it comes to that, we need couple of guys in the top order to fire.

There's a lot of class in that line-up. Josh Hazlewood has been the best find. I think he is a quality player, very experienced. That's exactly what we needed in the last few years,” de Villiers said.

With Virat in form, RCB are gonna go a long way: Ab de Villiers

AB also talked about the importance of Glenn Maxwell's form for the upcoming season and tipped Rajat Patidar to continue his last season's form in the upcoming season.

"It's just a matter of getting Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) in form and then somebody like a Rajat Patidar to make sure he continues with that kind of form and a few guys chipping around him,” de Villiers added. 

In the end, AB touched upon RCB's biggest name and his former teammate, Virat Kohli, and said that the former captain's form will be crucial for RCB to win the title this season.

“Virat we know, batted well in the World Cup and if he is in form, we are gonna go a long way. So, I'm looking forward to seeing these boys perform. They've got a lot of confidence from last year and now it's just a matter of building on that and taking it all the way,” AB concluded.