Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers says Bengaluru will always hold a special place in his heart, describing the city as the one that changed his life and gave him a connection with fans unlike anything he had experienced before.Speaking on The Times of India’s Bombay Sports Exchange podcast, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend reflected on his 11-year association with the franchise, saying the affection he received from the fans fulfilled a childhood dream.“Bengaluru is closest to my heart and will always remain that way,” de Villiers said. “It’s the city that changed my life, so it will always have a special place in my heart.”De Villiers joined RCB in 2011 after spending three seasons with the Delhi franchise and quickly became one of the IPL‘s most loved players. Alongside Virat Kohli, he formed one of the league’s most iconic batting partnerships, earning a lasting place in the hearts of Bengaluru supporters despite the franchise’s long wait for its maiden IPL title.Looking back on his early days with RCB, de Villiers said he felt at home almost immediately.“Bengaluru is a very special city. It had an enormous impact on my life. When I joined RCB in 2011, I immediately felt at home. It didn’t take long for the crowd to get behind me.”The 41-year-old recalled the first time he heard the Chinnaswamy Stadium crowd chanting his name, saying it instantly took him back to his childhood.“Hearing them chant my name was one of those moments I’d dreamed about as a child,” he said.“When I was six or seven years old, I used to hit tennis balls around the garage imagining myself playing in front of huge crowds.”“The first time the Bengaluru crowd started chanting my name, it felt like a light bulb switched on. I thought, ‘This is exactly what I dreamed about.'”According to de Villiers, that emotional bond formed almost instantly and only grew stronger over the years.“That connection with Bengaluru was immediate. The connection with India as a whole developed even further over the following years, especially around 2015 and 2016. But Bengaluru was where it all began.”Few overseas cricketers have enjoyed the kind of admiration de Villiers continues to receive in India, with RCB supporters still celebrating him years after his retirement from the IPL.Asked what made Indian fans connect with him so deeply, the former South African captain admitted he never fully understood it.“Honestly, I never really understood it. All I know is that it was incredibly special,” he said.“India has a deep love for cricket and for competition. I think people appreciate players who compete with passion and genuine joy.”“Perhaps that’s what people connected with. Maybe they also appreciated someone who always tried to remain positive.”While he cannot fully explain the relationship, de Villiers says it remains one of the greatest gifts of his career.“However it happened, I’m simply grateful,” he said. “The connection I’ve shared with the people of Bengaluru, and with India as a whole, is something I’ll always cherish.”
