Former South African cricket star AB de Villiers has sharply criticized IPL commentators for what he termed “lazy and negative commentary” regarding Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling attack during their crucial league fixture against Lucknow Super Giants. The cricket legend expressed his frustration without naming specific commentators, stating their coverage made him “extremely frustrated.”
The match at Ekamna Stadium saw RCB successfully chase LSG’s imposing 228-run total within 18.4 overs, securing victory by six wickets. This triumph guaranteed RCB a top-two position for the first time since 2016, earning them a Qualifier 1 spot against league leaders Punjab Kings and providing dual opportunities to reach the final.
De Villiers criticized the commentary team for unfairly targeting RCB’s bowling unit during LSG’s innings without properly evaluating the pitch conditions.
Speaking on his YouTube platform, de Villiers stated: “The commentary last evening genuinely frustrated me. The negativity while we bowled was overwhelming. Constant remarks about RCB’s bowling struggling, appearing unable to cope, and losing momentum as an in-form side. But consider this alternative – perhaps it was simply an exceptional batting surface? To all the astute commentators, why not acknowledge the possibility of excellent batting conditions?”
The former RCB stalwart, who represented the franchise across 11 seasons from 2011-2021, accumulating 5,422 runs at a remarkable 158.33 strike rate, believes commentators become trapped in predetermined storylines.
“They continuously discussed RCB’s bowling struggles again. Watching the match, I realized commentators sometimes lock onto specific narratives. While RCB lacks championship success, it’s intellectually lazy to repeatedly claim ‘the same story unfolds, bowlers failing and proving worthless’ without thorough field analysis. Rishabh Pant wouldn’t score 118 from approximately 60 deliveries on challenging, difficult surfaces. Every LSG batsman appeared comfortable throughout.
“Certainly, some bowling lacked quality. However, examining the broader context – 227 runs on surfaces typically unsupportive of such batting indicates genuinely favorable conditions. RCB remained competitive throughout; they weren’t overwhelmed and demonstrated their capabilities,” he concluded.
LSG reached 228/3 through Rishabh Pant’s explosive unbeaten 118 from 61 deliveries. RCB’s response featured Virat Kohli’s half-century, followed by Jitesh Sharma’s match-winning 85* from 33 balls alongside Mayank Agarwal to complete the chase.
De Villiers Analyzes RCB’s Transformation
De Villiers highlighted that the current RCB squad doesn’t rely on individual superstars.
“This season’s most encouraging aspect involves multiple contributors stepping forward, beyond just one or two players. It transcends the typical Virat Kohli dependency or historical reliance on players like Chris Gayle. Now we witness complete squad responses under pressure,” de Villiers observed.
“Krunal Pandya delivered an outstanding performance against Delhi. Josh Hazlewood fulfilled his role when required. Every team addition has discovered contribution methods. This represents successful, balanced squad characteristics.
“Consider Mayank Agarwal’s example. Despite recent team inclusion, he provided match-deciding contributions. This demonstrates his comfort within the team’s cultural environment,” de Villiers added.