Former RCB star AB de Villiers has come out strongly against IPL commentators for their “lazy and negative” criticism of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowlers during their recent clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025.
De Villiers Angry Over Biased Commentary During LSG vs RCB
In the high-scoring match at Ekana Stadium, RCB chased down 228 to beat LSG by six wickets, securing a top-two finish for the first time since 2016. Despite the victory, de Villiers was furious with the broadcast commentary during LSG’s innings.
“They kept saying our bowlers are under pressure, that they look useless… but nobody considered that it might just be a great batting wicket,” said de Villiers on his YouTube channel.
He emphasized that commentators often fixate on negative narratives, especially about teams like RCB who haven’t won an IPL title yet.
‘It Was a Great Pitch, Not Bad Bowling’ – De Villiers
De Villiers pointed out that the surface in Lucknow was unusually favorable for batters, and that even good deliveries were being punished. LSG’s Rishabh Pant scored a fiery 118 off 61 balls*, but RCB responded with strong batting from Virat Kohli, *Jitesh Sharma (85 off 33)**, and Mayank Agarwal to chase the target in 18.4 overs.
“It’s lazy to keep repeating the same criticism without understanding the match conditions,” he added.
RCB’s Strength Is Team Unity, Not Just Superstars
The former Proteas captain praised the balance in this year’s RCB squad, saying that multiple players are stepping up, unlike previous seasons where it all depended on big names like Kohli or Chris Gayle.
“Now, everyone is contributing – from Hazlewood to Mayank Agarwal. That’s what a strong, healthy squad looks like,” said de Villiers.
RCB will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, with a chance to reach the IPL final. As the playoff pressure builds, de Villiers’ passionate defense of the team reminds fans and pundits alike to look beyond surface-level narratives.
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