IPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore to retire jersey numbers of AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle

Bengaluru, Mar 18: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have decided to retire jersey numbers sported by their legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.

The franchise will make the decision official after the two cricketing legends are inducted into its Hall of Fame on March 26.

"Jersey numbers 17 and 333 will be retired forever as a tribute to @ABdeVilliers17 and @henrygayle, when we induct the legends of RCB into the Hall of Fame," RCB tweeted.

IPL 2023 - RCB Unbox: All you need to know about Royal Challengers Bangalore's curtain raiser

AB de Villiers IPL Stats for RCB

Jersey No. 17 became synonymous with South Africa batting great de Villiers, who played 11 seasons (2011-2021) for RCB and scored 4,491 runs in 156 matches for the franchise.

The Protea cricketer also slammed 37 half-centuries and two centuries for RCB, with the highest score of 133 not out in 2015. De Villiers, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in November 2021, had a strike rate touching 152 for RCB.

With Virat Kohli, de Villiers posted five 100-plus partnerships for RCB and two 200-plus stands, the only pair in the world to post two such partnerships.

Chris Gayle IPL stats for RCB

West Indian hard hitter Gayle played for RCB for seven seasons (2011-2017) and his jersey No. 333 became the most feared among opposing teams.

During the 2013 IPL season, the Jamaican smashed a mindboggling 708 runs in 16 matches for RCB, including an unbeaten 175.

Gayle began his IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009, before moving to RCB, where he served the longest stint with a franchise. He was bought by Punjab Kings in 2018, where he played four seasons.