IPL9 will be remembered for Virat Kohli’s brilliance: AB de Villiers

The South African genius feels his RCB skipper has made the ongoing edition of IPL “the best”

The first eight editions of the IPL were good but, in my view, IPL 9 has been the best.

Virat Kohli has already scored 4 centuries in IPL 2016. (AFP Photo)

First, the competition has been close with any of the eight teams capable of beating the other on its day. As we approach the knockout stages, six teams remain in contention and the other two, Rising Pune Supergiants and Kings XI Punjab, have had their moments. You couldn’t ask for more in a professional league format, and this unpredictability has kept spectators on their toes.

Second, the tournament has provided an ideal platform for the continuing evolution of T20 cricket, with coaches and captains developing strategies for batters and bowlers, taking the game forward and, from what I have seen, taking the quality of cricket to a higher level.

Third, IPL 9 has produced star performers such as Mustafizur Rahman, of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who currently stands on top of the bowlers’ list — those who have delivered more than 15 overs and yielded less than seven runs per over. Fourth, and above all, this competition will always be remembered for the magnificent batting of Virat Kohli.