Royal Challengers Bangalore were handed a huge boost ahead of their next IPL clash with Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. South African stalwart AB de Villiers has been declared fit for Saturday’s clash after missing a couple of games due to viral fever.

The South African’s return could not have come at a better time for Virat Kohli’s men with De Villiers’ compatriot Quinton de Kock set to return to his homeland to attend a wedding.

“AB is back fit, Quinton is away from this game. Quinton has returned home for a wedding so he is unavailable for this match so probably it’s an easy decision for us to make,” Bangalore head coach Daniel Vettori said on Friday.

De Villiers had been in outstanding form before his illness with knocks of 68 and 90 against Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils respectively.

Kohli and his men started the campaign disastrously but have made a min-turnaround in recent matches and now find themselves in the fifth spot in the league table with six points.

They still have their task cut out in the race for the playoff spots as they currently trail fourth-placed Kings XI Punjab by four points.