IPL 2020: We will miss RCB crowd without any doubt, says AB de Villiers

RCB is undoubtedly one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League. Despite showcasing miserable performances for three successive seasons, the franchise has never been short of receiving support from its fans. Especially in home games, where the stadiums are always packed with a plethora of RCB fans.

However, this year, the matches are going to be played in empty stadiums. There won’t be any fans to cheer the team. Players won’t feel the blood pumping in their ears. RCB stalwart, AB de Villiers recently addressed the issue and said that it will hamper the morale of players but added that he is used to playing in empty stadiums.

“I think everyone wants to play in front of big stadiums, there is a sort of adrenaline that pumps into you when the crowd gets very loud especially in the Chinnaswamy when the RCB crowd gets going, it gets difficult to stop the RCB side. We will miss that, I won’t say I am not used to it, I have played a lot of cricket in empty stadiums,”AB de Villiers said in a video on Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) official App.

“I grew up like that, it’s only during the last few years of my international career that I played in front of full stadiums. Even then, every season I used to go back to play domestic cricket and play a four-day game and there were just four-five people sitting inside the stadium. But we will miss the RCB crowd without any doubt,” AB de Villiers added.

AB de Villiers also raised concern over the hot weather conditions of UAE. He compared the heat of in UAE to a Test match he played in Chennai in 2008, where Virender Sehwag scored 309.

“I am not really used to these types of conditions, it is very hot, it reminds of me a Test match we played in Chennai where Viru scored 309, that’s the hottest conditions I have ever played in. The humidity is similar to that, when I arrived here. It seems to be getting better, I can already feel that it is better right now. It is important to have energy and the weather will definitely have a part,” AB de Villiers pointed.

RCB will play their first match of IPL 2020 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 21st September 2020.