Fuming AB de Villiers criticizes IPL commentators for ‘negative’ take on RCB: ‘They called our bowlers useless’

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has slammed IPL commentators for their “lazy and negative” remarks about Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowlers during the recent high-stakes match against Lucknow Super Giants. Without naming anyone directly, de Villiers said the commentary during the game left him “so angry.”

The match, played at Ekamna Stadium, was a thrilling encounter where RCB chased down LSG’s challenging total of 228 runs in just 18.4 overs, winning by six wickets. This victory secured RCB a top-two finish for the first time since 2016, guaranteeing them a spot in Qualifier 1 against table-toppers Punjab Kings and giving them two shots at making the final.

De Villiers took issue with how the commentators focused heavily on criticizing RCB’s bowling attack without acknowledging the conditions.

“I listened to the commentators last night, and honestly, it got me so angry,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “They were so negative when we were bowling. They kept saying things like, ‘RCB’s bowling is under pressure. They don’t look like they can handle it. Another in-form team losing momentum.’ But maybe, just maybe, it was simply a really good batting pitch? To all the ‘very clever and sharp’ commentators out there — how about considering the possibility that it was an excellent surface for batting?”

De Villiers, a close friend of Virat Kohli who represented RCB for 11 seasons and scored over 5,400 runs at a strike rate of 158.33, criticized the commentators for getting stuck on a one-sided narrative.

“They kept saying RCB’s bowlers were in poor form, but sometimes commentators get stuck on a story and don’t really analyze what’s happening on the field,” he explained. “Yes, RCB has never won a title, but it’s lazy to just say, ‘Here we go again, the bowlers are failing,’ without looking at the bigger picture. Rishabh Pant wasn’t going to score 118 off 60 balls on a tough pitch if it wasn’t a good batting surface. All the LSG batters were fluent out there.

“Sure, some bowling wasn’t great at times. But scoring 227 runs on a wicket that usually doesn’t favor batsmen shows it was a very good pitch. RCB stayed competitive and proved it in the end,” he added.

In the match, LSG posted 228/3, thanks largely to Rishabh Pant’s explosive unbeaten 118 off 61 balls. During RCB’s chase, Virat Kohli scored a half-century, and after he got out, Jitesh Sharma (85-* off 33 balls) and Mayank Agarwal played crucial roles to seal the win.

De Villiers also praised the current RCB squad for their team effort and not relying on just one star player.

“What excites me the most this season is that multiple players are stepping up, not just one or two. It’s not just about Virat Kohli or, back in the day, Chris Gayle. The whole team is responding under pressure,” he said.

“We saw Krunal Pandya play a fantastic innings against Delhi. Josh Hazlewood has been doing his job when called upon. Everyone who’s joined the team has found a way to contribute, and that’s the sign of a strong, healthy squad.

“Take Mayank Agarwal, for example. He only joined recently but already made a match-winning contribution. That shows he’s comfortable with the team culture and environment,” de Villiers added.