IPL 2016: RCB skipper Virat Kohli hails AB De Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has said that it's a pleasure to bat with AB De Villiers. India's test captain has been in brilliant form in the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier League scoring 677 runs at an average of 75 with a strike rate of 148.14.

The current purple cap holder has now scored three centuries in the competition, the most ever by a player in a single edition of the IPL. It is his partnership with De Villiers though that has got the fans and experts excited. The duo added 229 runs for the second wicket against Gujarat Lions on 14 May, which is the highest partnership in the history of T20 cricket. Incidentally, the previous best was also by these two who put on an unbeaten 215 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last year.

"There doesn't have to be any conversation when batting with AB (De Villiers). More so, because we think very alike about how we want to bat and approach an innings. All we do is keep giving each other confidence and assuring each other, 'Yes, you should go for your shots or 'No, right now you should not go for your big shots'. That's about the only conversation we have out there because we have such good understanding between us", Kohli said as quoted by cricbuzz.com.

"It is a pleasure to bat with AB. I told him that today as well. The kind of shots he plays, you feel embarrassed. You feel like you can never do that. He sweeps the fast bowlers over the roof. I mean I had never heard of something like that. This was our second 200-plus run partnership we had one last year as well and I am really grateful for these beautiful days."

Despite the presence of the duo in the batting line-up, the Bangalore outfit are currently languishing in the sixth place in the points table, winning just five out of the 11 games played. They will need to win all their remaining games to stay in contention for a spot in the play-off stage.