Former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legend AB de Villiers has strongly criticised Indian Premier League (IPL) commentators for their “lazy and negative” analysis of RCB’s bowling during their high-scoring clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the veteran cricketer — who represented RCB for 11 seasons — said he was “angry” while listening to commentary during the final league match of IPL 2025 held at Ekamna Stadium, Lucknow.
“They kept saying, ‘RCB’s bowling is under pressure… they’re starting to lose momentum.’ But what about the pitch? Maybe it was just a really good batting surface,” said De Villiers, taking aim at the commentators’ “fixation on a negative narrative.”
RCB successfully chased down a massive 228-run target posted by LSG — led by Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 118 off 61 balls — winning by six wickets in 18.4 overs. The chase was powered by Virat Kohli’s fifty, followed by a sensational unbeaten 85 off 33 balls by Jitesh Sharma.
Despite the remarkable turnaround, commentators allegedly focused heavily on RCB’s bowling struggles, which De Villiers believes lacked nuance.
“Yes, there were some bad deliveries. But a total like 227 on a pitch like that suggests batting conditions were extremely good. That’s what needs proper analysis,” he said.
De Villiers, a close friend of Virat Kohli, expressed frustration with the “lazy trope” that RCB’s bowling is always the weak link.
“It’s unfair to say RCB bowlers are useless. This team is different now. Commentators must stop clinging to old narratives — RCB isn’t just about one or two stars anymore.”
The South African also praised RCB’s collective performance and evolving culture.
“This team is no longer about one superstar. It’s about collective effort. Players like Mayank Agarwal and Krunal Pandya have stepped up. That shows a healthy dressing room,” he said.
The win secured RCB’s top-two finish in the league for the first time since 2016, setting them up for Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. With two chances to enter the final, the team appears more balanced and resilient than ever before.
As RCB aim to end their title drought, AB de Villiers’ sharp words may serve as both a defence of the team and a reminder to pundits to dig deeper than surface-level assumptions.
