'Great If RCB Could Have Rishabh But..': AB de Villiers Predicts Team Which Will Be Desperate To Pick Pant

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has said that while it would be great if the Royal Challengers Bangalore could pick up Rishabh Pant at the auction, it is most likely that the Ricky Ponting-led management at the Punjab Kings will desperately bid for him. Pant was released by the Delhi Capitals and he is expected to tee off a bidding war at the auction. Ponting was the coach of Delhi and after a change in management, he left for Punjab, only for skipper Pant to be released as well ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. De Villiers said that Pant might be picked for Punjab because of the great bond he shares with Ponting, which they both developed during their time in Delhi. "I hear you. I think it is incredibly unlikely that RCB will get hold of Rishabh Pant, I think he will be too expensive and all the franchises are going to go for him in the auction. I do feel Punjab Kings spend whatever they can to get him, that's my personal feeling. It's my gut feeling, I feel there is a very tight connection between him and Ricky Ponting," de Villiers said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxRLhe9L5c

"I think we are going to see him at Punjab Kings. We'll see what happens, if not, it would be great if RCB could have Rishabh, but I just think, he is going to be too expensive," de Villiers added. The former RCB batter said that he wants the franchise's focus to be on the bowling department, a world-class spinner and some local players. Bowling has been a constant weak link for the franchise, a major reason for their 16-year-long wait for an IPL trophy. De Villiers recently suggested that RCB should try and get back Yuzvendra Chahal.