In preparation for the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) team has announced that they will retire the jersey numbers of their former players Ab de Villiers (17) and Chris Gayle (333). These two legendary cricketers have had long and successful tenures with the team, dazzling fans with their exceptional performances in the lucrative league. In recognition of their contributions and impact, the management has decided to induct them into the RCB Hall of Fame.
RCB Hall of Fame on 26th March
The induction ceremony will take place on March 26th at the RCB Unbox event at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, where the team will also unveil their jersey for the upcoming season. Fans are eagerly anticipating a sold-out show for the occasion.
The team took to Twitter to announce their decision to retire the jerseys of Gayle and de Villiers, as a tribute to their invaluable contributions during their time with the RCB franchise.
Last year, when news of their induction into the Hall of Fame surfaced, former captain Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude. He shared a special message, acknowledging the immense impact that Gayle and de Villiers have had on the team.
“AB has truly changed the game of cricket with his innovation, brilliance, and sportsmanship. Which truly defines the RCB Play Bold philosophy. It’s truly special for me to be doing this for both of you. We saw videos of how you have changed the way the IPL has been played over the years. Two people who have had a huge impact in IPL being where it is today; and RCB being where it is today,”
Virat said.
It is worth noting that de Villiers joined Bangalore in 2011 and played 156 matches. He scored an impressive 4491 runs for the team. Meanwhile, Gayle did not find a buyer in the 2011 IPL auction but later joined RCB during the season. Over the course of his seven-year tenure with the franchise, the left-handed batsman smashed 3163 runs. His highest individual score of 175* still stands as the record for the highest score by a player in IPL history.
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