AB de Villiers Defends RCB’s Bowling Amid Criticism
Former South African captain AB de Villiers is speaking out against some commentators who criticized Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) bowling during their recent IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27. De Villiers believes the commentators did not properly assess the pitch conditions at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium and instead unfairly mocked RCB’s bowling lineup, suggesting they faltered under pressure in a key match.
On his weekly show, ABD 360, de Villiers argued that Rishabh Pant’s impressive 118 off 61 balls would not have been possible if the pitch had been as challenging as the commentators portrayed it in the first innings.
Needing a win to secure a top-two finish for the first time in nine years, RCB allowed LSG to score 227 runs in Lucknow. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma made some questionable decisions after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, which allowed Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh to take full advantage, leading to LSG’s highest score at home.
Pant, who had been struggling lately, found his form and blasted eight sixes and 11 fours to achieve his first IPL century in seven years. The pitch at the Ekana Stadium was unusually favorable for batting, benefiting both teams.
In a surprising turn of events, RCB managed to chase down a daunting target of 228 runs in just 18.4 overs. With Virat Kohli scoring a quick 54 off 30 balls and Jitesh Sharma hitting an unbeaten 85 off 33, RCB clinched two crucial points, placing them in Qualifier 1.
De Villiers voiced his frustration with the commentators. "I listened to them last night, and it really upset me," he said. "They kept saying negative things about our bowling. They blamed RCB for failing under pressure, but maybe it was just a great batting pitch. Why not consider that instead?"
He continued, "Sure, there were moments of poor bowling, but looking at the overall picture, 227 runs on a wicket that usually doesn’t support batting indicates it was a good surface. RCB was still in the game and proved they could handle the challenge."
RCB has faced similar problems with their bowling in crucial moments before. They missed Josh Hazlewood’s presence in this match, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal struggled against the aggressive batting from LSG.
AB de Villiers Proud of RCB’s Team Spirit
De Villiers expressed pride in RCB’s team performance this season, noting that they are no longer dependent on just one or two standout players. Throughout IPL 2025, eight different players have garnered ten Player of the Match awards.
"What excites me the most this season is seeing multiple players stepping up, not just the usual stars like Virat Kohli or Chris Gayle," he said. "Krunal Pandya played a fantastic innings against Delhi, and new additions like Mayank Agarwal have contributed significantly. This shows a healthy team environment."
RCB will face the Punjab Kings, currently the top team, in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in New Chandigarh.
