AB de Villiers asked to reveal what Virat Kohli whispered in his ears; Mr. 360 avoids a repeat of last year's blunder
A year ago, AB de Villiers blundered by disclosing personal information about Virat Kohli during one of his appearances on his YouTube channel. It made him regret as he acknowledged his "mistake." Having learnt from past experience, the former South Africa international chose to keep his chat with Kohli a secret when the two met right before the start of the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad.
De Villiers has been part of the broadcasting unit of the IPL over the last few days, and, hence, was seen at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday for the final between RCB and the Punjab Kings. Seeing friend and former RCB teammate warming up before the final, he walked over to Kohli, and the two shared a hug before the latter was seen whispering something into his ears.
Later, during the commentary through RCB's innings, De Villiers, who was part of the RCB unit the last time they played a final nine years back, was poked to disclose what Kohli told him during their emotional reunion. Still, the veteran batter did not reveal it.
He said: "I'm not allowed to say what Kohli told me."
After Kohli took a break from cricket at the start of 2024, skipping the home series against England, it sparked a wide range of speculations, with few experts even questioning its timing. In response to the critics, De Villiers, taking to his YouTube channel, revealed that he was away from national duty as he and his wife, Anushka Sharma, were expecting their second child.
A few days later, he sharply retracted his statement, saying that he had 'made a big mistake.'
Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar on the sidelines of the then-ongoing SA20 league in South Africa, he said: "Family comes first and then Cricket. I made a terrible mistake on my YouTube channel. That information was wrong and not true at all. Virat has every right to take a break from national duties due to family reasons. I think whatever's best for Virat's family, comes first. No one knows what's happening there, all I can do is wish him well. Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he can come back stronger, better, and fresh from this."
As it turned out, Kohli and Anushka did welcome their second child, a son named Akaay, on February 15, 2024. The couple had announced the news on social media.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
8 minutes ago
- NDTV
In A Year Of Surprise Winners, South Africa Aims To End Trophy Drought In WTC Final
South Africa batter Aiden Markram hopes a run for underdogs continues in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, according to the ICC website. Markram hopes a run of sporting trophy droughts broken in 2025 rings true at the World Test Championship 2025 Final, with the Proteas taking on defending champions Australia from June 11. In the cricket world, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally tasted men's IPL success, beating Punjab Kings in the tournament final, while in football, Paris Saint Germain lifted the UEFA Champions League earlier this month for the first time. While Markram acknowledged it hasn't been a storyline taken on by the Proteas looking to finally break their duck, the right-hander hopes it may just be an omen for his team. "(There's) not much chat along those lines in terms of watching the other events, but hopefully that trend can continue," Markram told ICC Digital ahead of the Final. Obviously, we've been chasing it now for many years as a squad," Aiden Markram said. "Across all formats, we've probably improved slightly throughout and had sniffs to win it. If we can get ourselves into a position over the five days of the Test match to win, we'll push really hard for that." South Africa has been in the mix across formats at ICC events in recent years. Last year, it reached the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final but fell at the final hurdle to India. The side also reached the semi-final stage at both the 2023 Cricket World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, and came into the Lord's final having topped the table. Markram gives insight into South Africa's mindset by saying each player has received clear instructions in pursuing the mace. "I think it's the collective decision for each guy to bring their best skill. It's going to be a tough game." "It's a Test match, of course, against Australia and a Dukes ball, Lord's, all those sorts of things, but ultimately, the guys have a skillset that have got them here, got them selected, throughout the cycle performed as well, doing those skills," he added. "So it's about backing that, our best skill versus their (Australia's) best skill, and we'll see where it lands us at the end of the day." Australia stands as an imposing opponent. They are the defending champions and sealed their Final spot after a series win over giants India on home soil. The Proteas fell 2-0 to the Aussies on tour in the 2021-2023 cycle, though Markram believes there is little he and his side haven't seen from their opponents. "We pretty much know what the Australians are all about and their skill levels, their characters and all those sorts of things," Markram said. "It's always a challenge that we get really excited for, and we generally get up for it and look forward to it. I've got no doubt this time it'll be any different." In their quest for victory, the Proteas have set up in Arundel, taking on Zimbabwe in a warm-up match, before travelling to Lord's to join England fast bowling legend Stuart Broad, who comes in as a consultant for the team's fast bowling battery. Markram says vibes in the camp are positive ahead of the Final. "The energies have been good, obviously lots of excitement in the air for the time being. (I'm) sure when we get a bit closer to the game or a few nerves will start kicking in," Markram said.
NDTV
8 minutes ago
- NDTV
Major Lapses Emerge During Bengaluru Stampede, Medical Centre Was Shut
Bengaluru: Major lapses have emerged in organising the felicitation ceremony in Bengaluru that was marred by a deadly stampede last evening. While the focus remained on ensuring security for the VVIPs, including the players and their families, a serious lack of adequate police and medical staff at the stadium has now been flagged. The stampede that claimed 11 lives yesterday occurred when thousands of fans tried to force their way inside the packed M Chinnaswamy stadium through narrow entry points to attend the felicitation of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players, who had brought home their first ever IPL trophy in 18 years. Lack of Medical Support Cricket matches in India are an extensive affair. Multiple arrangements are made for the spectators at the stadium, including the deployment of adequate police and medical staff. They are usually present at every stand to provide support to anyone in a time of need. However, on June 4, ground staff and police officials at the Bengaluru stadium suggest there wasn't enough support staff. In Pics: How Celebrations Turned Into Tragedy In Bengaluru NDTV also visited the medical command centre located near the stadium's main entry. It was not operational yesterday. It remained empty when injured fans reached there in search of water and first aid. However, no such facility was available there yesterday, according to several support staff. Inside the medical room, different items, including a blood-stained handkerchief, were strewn on the floor, indicating that it was a site of struggle during the stampede. Inadequate Police Cover Even the police presence outside the stadium was not on par with match days. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium expects a turnout of around 35,000 attendees on match days, which is its maximum capacity. However, the number far exceeded yesterday as the RCB's maiden victory had become an emotive issue in the state. The lack of adequate police presence on the ground could be attributed to the need for additional security at the Vidhan Soudha, which hosted several VIPs, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, yesterday. The players, too, went to the Vidhan Soudha for the official felicitation event. This likely divided the police resources. Sources say the police had advised the RCB franchise and the government against organising the felicitation ceremony on Wednesday. They had insisted that it be held on Sunday, but the RCB's management reportedly argued that by then, the overseas players would leave and be unable to attend the ceremony. On June 4, when the celebrations went on inside, chaos erupted outside. With entry being made free, a huge crowd turned up, choking the stadium's gates. Desperate to attend the ceremony, thousands tried to jostle their way inside, leading to the stampede. Apart from 11 deaths, dozens were injured, and many fainted. A blame game has also erupted over the stampede, with the BCCI and IPL washing their hands off the incident, leaving the RCB franchise to face the blame. The opposition BJP has also targeted the ruling Congress over the stampede. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered an investigation. His deputy, DK Shivakumar, has also apologised for overcrowding the venue.
NDTV
8 minutes ago
- NDTV
RCB Management To Be Probed Over Social Media Post Hours Before Stampede
Bengaluru: The management of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face official scrutiny over a social media post announcing a public victory parade, made just hours before a deadly stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed at least 11 people and left 47 injured. The probe will also include senior members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), whose role in planning the felicitation ceremony is now under review by Bengaluru Police and a magisterial inquiry panel. The stampede occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 4, during celebrations marking RCB's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory after an 18-year wait. At 3:14 pm on June 4, RCB's official account on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) posted an announcement confirming a "Victory Parade" scheduled to begin at 5 pm from the Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, followed by a felicitation event inside the stadium. The post included a link for free passes, declaring "limited entry" and requesting fans to adhere to police guidelines. 🚨 RCB Victory Parade: Today at 5 pm IST. ‼️ Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium. We request all fans to follow guidelines set by police and other authorities, so that everyone can enjoy the roadshow peacefully. Free passes (limited… — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 4, 2025 "Victory Parade will be followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium. We request all fans to follow guidelines set by police and other authorities so that everyone can enjoy the roadshow peacefully. Free passes (limited entry) available on the post read. The only communication from RCB before June 4 was through KSCA, which on June 3 sent a letter seeking permission to host a felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha. This directly contradicts the Karnataka government's earlier assertion that the event was "planned at the last minute." Bengaluru Police had suggested deferring celebrations by at least two days to allow proper planning. Two simultaneous gatherings, one outside the Vidhana Soudha where the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Governor were scheduled to felicitate the RCB team, and the other at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, created logistical chaos. While over one lakh people gathered outside the Vidhana Soudha, stadium estimates placed the crowd at upwards of three lakh. Bengaluru Police, already stretched thin, had redeployed significant personnel to secure the government complex, splitting police force at both venues. This led to a breakdown in coordination, particularly at Gates 2, 2A, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, and 21-points where crowd surges overwhelmed the available police and stadium staff.
