IPL 2018: AB de Villiers reveals how RCB regrouped after 'devastating' defeat against CSK

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have had a tough season in the Indian Premier League thus far. They have only managed to win two matches. And the hero of both the matches for them has been AB de Villiers. In their most recent game, they lost against the Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru. It was a highly hyped game and twin fifties from AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock had put the hosts in command of the game. RCB managed to post a huge total of 205 on the board and then had the opposition reeling at 74/4 at one stage in the game.

What followed was an absolute CSK show. MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu hit whirlwind fifties to chase down 205. Recently, in his column for TOI, AB de Villiers reflected back at the game and noted that it was devastating to lose after scoring 205. He remarked that the mood in the team was low after the game. Daniel Vettori and Virat Kohli tried to lift the spirits but nothing worked.

“For all our early season confidence, for all our growing belief in each other… amid the grim silence, the disbelief, the glazed staring, this defeat felt truly devastating-…Dan Vettori, our coach, spoke, and spoke well. Virat Kohli then identified what had gone right and what went wrong. Their message was clear: we needed to improve in certain areas, we needed to move on and prepare for the visit of KKR on Sunday. Yet, still, we all sat silent, still stunned by what had happened,” AB de Villiers wrote in his column for Times of India.

Dhoni deserves the credit

Commenting further on the same note, AB admitted that MS Dhoni deserved all the credit for what he did in the run chase. At the same time, he cited that it was hard to digest that they lost despite being in command of the game for the major part of the competition.

“The game was essentially won. After reaching 205 on a slow pitch, and then reducing CSK to 74 for 4 in the ninth over, we seemed within touching distance of a second successive win at home, another step in the right direction, a strong move up the table. MS Dhoni deserves immense credit for what followed; his masterclass innings, of 70 runs from 34 balls including seven 6s, turned the game on its head, led his team to an amazing victory, stilled the Chinnaswamy roar and left our changing room stunned,” noted the veteran cricketer.

Quinton de Kock breaks the ice

Revealing how the team finally overcame the dullness, AB de Villiers remarked that it was a one liner from Quinton de Kock that prompted everyone to afford a smile. De Kock is usually a very reserved person. And words coming from his end had the people in good spirits again.

“Quinton de Kock somehow found the words. ‘Come on, boys’ he suddenly declared. ‘Don’t be bitter, just be better.’ In an instant, the gloom lifted… the ice was broken… and everybody laughed,” he revealed.

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