AB De Villiers criticised the commentators for unfairly targeting RCB’s bowlers during LSG’s innings, urging them to consider the match conditions.
AB de Villiers Slams IPL Commentators for Negative Narrative Against RCB Bowlers
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has taken a strong stand against the IPL commentators, accusing them of making “lazy and negative comments” about Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowlers during their final league match of IPL 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants. Though he refrained from naming individuals, AB De Villiers expressed his frustration over what he called a biased and one-dimensional narrative that unfolded during the game.
In a thrilling contest at Ekana Stadium, RCB chased down a mammoth 228-run target in just 18.4 overs, securing a six-wicket win and sealing a top-two finish for the first time since 2016. The victory booked their place in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings, giving them two shots at reaching the final.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers criticised the commentary team for focusing solely on RCB’s bowling struggles without acknowledging the nature of the pitch.
“I listened to the commentators last night, and honestly, it got me so angry,” he said. “They were so negative when we were bowling. They kept saying, ‘RCB’s bowling is under pressure. They don’t look like they’re going to manage it.’ But did anyone stop to think that maybe it was just a really good batting wicket?”
De Villiers’ remarks have resonated with fans, who echoed his concerns about biased narratives and called for more balanced, insightful analysis from the commentary box.
AB De Villiers Defends RCB, Praises Team Unity and Depth
AB de Villiers, one of Virat Kohli’s closest friends and a Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend with 5422 runs across 11 IPL seasons (2011–2021), came to the defence of RCB’s bowling unit amid criticism following their high-scoring win against Lucknow Super Giants. Speaking out against the repetitive narrative pushed by commentators, de Villiers emphasized the importance of context in match analysis.
“They kept repeating how RCB’s bowlers were poor again. But as I watched, I thought—sometimes commentators get stuck on a storyline,” said de Villiers. “Yes, RCB haven’t won a title, but it’s lazy to just keep saying, ‘Here we go again.’ Rishabh Pant scored 118 on a tough pitch where other batters also looked comfortable. That tells you it was a very good batting surface.”
LSG put up a formidable 228/3, led by Pant’s unbeaten 118 off 61 balls. In reply, Kohli struck a half-century before Jitesh Sharma’s unbeaten 85 off 33 and Mayank Agarwal’s support sealed a remarkable chase for RCB.
De Villiers was particularly impressed by RCB’s team-wide contributions this season.
The South African legend believes such collective effort is the foundation of a successful, title-challenging squad.