Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Yash Dayal recently reflected on his favorite moment involving the team’s special green jersey, a kit worn annually to raise awareness about environmental causes. The memory he picked was not from his own performance, but a legendary partnership that cricket fans still talk about — the 229-run stand between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers during the 2016 Indian Premier League season.
In a recent interview, Dayal said, “My favourite memory in Green RCB’s Jersey is Virat Kohli bhai and AB de Villiers’ 200+ runs partnership. They both scored hundreds in that match.” His words perfectly capture the admiration that younger players continue to hold for legends like Kohli and de Villiers, who have defined RCB’s journey over the years.
The match he referred to took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where RCB faced Gujarat Lions in one of the most dominant displays in IPL history. Kohli scored 109 runs off 55 balls, while AB de Villiers hammered an unbeaten 129 off just 52 deliveries. The duo combined to put up a massive 229-run partnership for the second wicket — the highest in IPL history at that time and still among the most iconic batting performances in T20 cricket.
RCB posted a towering total of 248 for 3, and Gujarat Lions had no answer to the onslaught, eventually losing by a huge margin. The game is fondly remembered by RCB fans, not just for the records broken, but for the visual spectacle of two of the best batsmen of the modern era batting in complete sync.
What made the occasion even more special was that it happened in the green jersey — a symbol of RCB’s commitment to sustainability and environmental causes. The franchise uses the green kit each season to promote eco-friendly practices, and that 2016 match gave the initiative one of its most unforgettable chapters.
Yash Dayal’s fond recollection of the moment highlights how deeply that game resonates with both fans and current players. For Dayal, who joined RCB in 2024 and is still carving out his own legacy in the tournament, the admiration for Kohli and de Villiers is a reminder of the high standards set by RCB’s icons.
Dayal has spoken in the past about how much support and encouragement he has received from senior players in the dressing room, especially Virat Kohli. That mentorship and exposure to RCB’s rich history of performances have had a clear impact on the young bowler’s mindset and confidence.
While the current RCB squad focuses on chasing success in this season of the IPL, the memories of matches like the one in 2016 continue to inspire. Kohli and de Villiers’ partnership was not just a display of skill but also an embodiment of teamwork and fearlessness — traits that newer players like Yash Dayal are now striving to carry forward in the iconic red and green of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.