Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has taken a strong stance against IPL commentators for what he described as “lazy and negative” criticism of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowlers. Speaking after RCB’s thrilling win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the final league game of the IPL 2025 season, De Villiers didn’t hold back in defending his former team.
In a high-scoring match played at Ekamna Stadium, RCB chased down a massive target of 228 runs in just 18.4 overs, winning by six wickets. The stunning victory not only helped them secure a top-two finish for the first time since 2016 but also sealed their place in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. But what caught De Villiers’ attention was the constant barrage of criticism directed at RCB’s bowling attack during LSG’s innings.
AB de Villiers on RCB Bowlers: Frustration Over Commentary
AB de Villiers, who represented RCB for 11 seasons and is one of the most respected voices in world cricket, took to his YouTube channel to share his anger. Without naming specific individuals, he slammed the commentary team for being overly negative and accused them of being fixated on old narratives about RCB.
“I listened to the commentators last night, and honestly, it got me so angry,” said De Villiers. “They were so negative when we were bowling. They kept saying things like ‘RCB’s bowling is under pressure’ and ‘RCB’s momentum is fading.’ But maybe it was just a really good batting wicket, guys?”
De Villiers highlighted that the criticism was unjustified given the pitch conditions, which clearly favored batters. He questioned why commentators failed to consider the impact of the surface and instead stuck to a tired narrative that RCB bowlers always underperform.
RCB Criticism: De Villiers Calls It Lazy Analysis
AB de Villiers on RCB bowlers emphasized that the tendency to blame RCB’s bowling without proper analysis is both lazy and misleading. “It’s easy to keep repeating that RCB’s bowlers are failing, that they’re useless,” he said. “But did anyone actually analyze how good the pitch was for batting? It wasn’t a typical low-scoring surface. Rishabh Pant scored 118 off 61 balls — that tells you something.”
Indeed, LSG posted 228/3 thanks to Pant’s incredible innings. However, RCB responded with authority as Virat Kohli scored a half-century and Jitesh Sharma (85* off 33) along with Mayank Agarwal chased down the target with ease.
AB de Villiers on RCB’s Turnaround in IPL 2025
AB de Villiers also shared his insights on what he believes is behind RCB’s success in the IPL 2025 season. He said this version of the team is no longer dependent on just one or two stars.
“What excites me most is that multiple players are stepping up,” De Villiers said. “It’s not just Virat Kohli or someone like Chris Gayle from the past. It’s the whole squad — guys like Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, and Mayank Agarwal have all stepped up when it mattered.”
He specifically praised Mayank Agarwal, who only recently joined the RCB squad but played a match-winning knock against LSG. According to De Villiers, this shows the strength of the team culture and how newcomers are seamlessly fitting in and contributing.
IPL Commentators Must Do Better: De Villiers
AB de Villiers on RCB bowlers also carried a broader message for the IPL broadcasting team. He urged them to be more objective and to analyze matches based on conditions rather than preconceived notions.
“Yes, there was some poor bowling at times. But when the entire opposition batting lineup looks fluent, maybe the issue is the pitch and not just the bowlers,” De Villiers added. “The RCB bowling unit stayed in the contest and helped set up the win. That deserves recognition.”
The legendary South African’s comments have sparked a wider discussion among fans and experts alike, as RCB eyes its first-ever IPL title. With multiple players performing and belief running high, this could finally be the year RCB makes history — and commentators may have to change their tune.