“Virat told me I’m not allowed to say that anymore” - AB de Villiers’ stunning claim after PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter AB de Villiers revealed that Virat Kohli asked him not to utter the famous Kannada lines 'Ee Sala Cup Namde', meaning 'The cup is ours this year'. De Villiers' remarks came after the three-time finalists stormed into their fourth IPL final with a thumping eight-wicket win over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur on Thursday, May 29.

It was the fourth time they reached the IPL final and the first since 2016 when De Villiers' heroics helped them win Qualifier 1. The franchise hasn't won the elusive IPL title after 17 completed seasons, losing their three previous finals.

Talking about RCB's chances this season on ESPN Cricinfo, De Villiers said (via Hindustan Times):

"The time has come. RCB is going all the way. I'm not allowed to say the Bengaluru terms because Virat told me I'm not allowed to say that anymore. But I truly believe we are going all the way this season. So stay tuned, buckle up and enjoy the ride."

De Villiers had praised his former side for their all-around team effort this season, heading into the playoffs, saying:

"What excites me most this season is that multiple players are stepping up, not just one or two. It's not just the usual Virat Kohli or, back in the day, a Chris Gayle. Now, we see the whole squad responding under pressure."

RCB will face one of PBKS, Gujarat Titans (GT), or Mumbai Indians (MI) in the grand finale at Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3.

RCB did a demolition job on PBKS in Qualifier 1

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RCB showed no sign of nerves in dismantling PBKS in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur last night. Winning the toss and bowling first, the pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Josh Hazlewood set the early tone by reducing PBKS to 50/5 in the seventh over.

Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma continued the excellent work from the seamers by producing a sensational spell of 3/17 in three overs. Hazlewood's third wicket brought PBKS' innings to a close in just 14.1 overs for a paltry total of 101.

In response, opener Phil Salt smashed a sparkling 27-ball 56* to steer his side to a comprehensive victory by eight wickets in 10 overs. The 60 balls remaining was the biggest win margin while chasing in IPL playoff history.

Suyash was adjudged the Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling, which included the massive wickets of Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis.

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Venkatesh has been writing cricket news, listicle and feature articles for Sportskeeda for over a year. He loves cricket because of the diversity of the playing fields and its unparalleled nuances, which no other sport presents. He also enjoys the analytical and quantitative side of the sport, which originates from his MBA degree and 10 years of experience in the IT industry in companies like Infosys, Atos and TCS.

Venkatesh ensures proper research from reliable sources and social media trends to gather information, and adds his own dash of creativity to create insightful content.

He started watching cricket in the late 1990s, having been impressed with South Africa and New Zealand’s gentleman-like attitude. Domestically, he supports the Chennai Super Kings for their ability to bring the best out of their players owing to a friendly and conducive team environment.

He admires three cricketers the most – Brian Lara for his batting style, AB de Villiers for changing the paradigm of batting and MS Dhoni for his unique cerebral approach to field placings and batting. Along with cricket, Venkatesh also enjoys watching and playing tennis and basketball. In his free time, he finds pleasure in singing and watching movies and web series.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran