Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are auctioning gear from a 2016 IPL match
Both Kohli and de Villiers had scored centuries in the match
The proceeds will go to charities fighting against coronavirus
India captain Virat Kohli and former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers have put up their gear from a 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) match up for auction, with the hope of raising money for funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The match in question saw Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the erstwhile Gujarat Lions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Kohli and De Villiers were both in stunning form and the two batting maestros hit centuries as RCB smashed 248. The two batsmen shared a 229-run stand, which is the second biggest partnership in Twenty20 cricket.
"Cricket has given me many incredible memories - and, among the most precious, stands the partnership with @virat.kohli , playing for RCB and against Gujarat Lions in 2016," the flamboyant batsman wrote.
"Everything clicked on what was a truly unforgettable night at the IPL. The capacity crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium were going crazy, and we both scored centuries in a partnership of 229 runs from 96 balls. More importantly, RCB won the match by 144 runs," he added.
AB de Villiers had scored an unbeaten 129 off 52 deliveries while Kohli hit 109 off 55 deliveries in the match against Gujarat Lions.
"Now we find ourselves in a global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Virat and I would like to help people in need, people struggling to put food on the table," de Villiers wrote.
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"So we are donating some of the key items from that special day in 2016," he wrote.
AB de Villiers revealed that Kohli was donating his bat and gloves from that match while he was giving away his shirt and bat.
With 1,396 more COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's count of coronavirus cases has reached 27,892, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.
Out of the total cases, 20,835 patients are active cases and 6,185 cases have been cured, discharged, or migrated. The death toll stands at 872, with as many as 48 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.