Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is currently holding the top position of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. While the entire team deserves the credit for an all-round performance whether it is bowling, batting or fielding, but a huge credit goes to Virat Kohli who has performed outstanding with the bat depending upon the situation of the game.

Till now Kohli has crossed the 500-run mark in an IPL season for a record eight time, gathering 505 runs in 11 innings at an average of 63.13 with a strike rate of 143.47. His record of seven fifty-plus scores in a single sesaon is his third-best in an IPL season, following 11 fifty-plus scores in 2016 and eight in 2023 respectively. Currently Kohli is dominating with the bat and is the Orange Cap holder, narrowly leading over Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan. Despite being the Orange Cap holder at present this season, the run machine has still faced his share of criticism. Some former cricketers and experts like Sanjay Manjrekar, Virender Sehwag, and Sunil Gavaskar questioned his strike rate and urged him to accelerate more during the middle overs. This criticism hasn't only roaming about Kohli not this year, but also over the last couple of seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17)

Former South African legend cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legendary player Ab de Villiers slammed Virat Kohli's critics after the 52nd match of the IPL 2025 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In that match Kohli scored 62 runs off 33 balls with five fours and five sixes with an impressive strike rateof 187.87. It was not a typical knock from Kohli, as majority of his run came through the boundaries.

Never Fear When Virat Kohli Is Near - AB De Villiers

Meanwhile in a video shared on Instagram, he defended Virat Kohli and highlighted his strike rate against a quality bowling attack like CSK and named him as RCB's "Mr. Safety", someone on whom a team can always rely whatever the situation is. The South African star also mentioned that no one does not have to fear when Kohli bats in the middle. Later on the video he called out media and journalists, reminding them of their criticism around Kohli's strike rate.

"Virat is always there. He is Mr. Safety for RCB. When he is there, you don't have to fear. Never fear when Virat is near. That is the story. Nothing has ever changed, and what I want to tell all of you media people, I haven't forgotten. I have the brain of an elephant. To all my journalist friends out there, I love you guys. But remember when you said Virat bats too slow, right? Virat is there batting at almost a 200 strike rate last night. Eat that," said De Villiers in a video shared on his Instagram account.

With 8 wins in 11 matches till now, RCB is holding the top position of the league table. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their homeground on 9th May, 7:30 PM IST.