AB de Villiers, the former RCB legend and one of Virat Kohli’s closest cricketing allies, came out all guns blazing in support of the Bengaluru skipper, taking a cheeky dig at critics who’ve questioned Kohli’s strike rate in IPL 2025. The South African great used his Instagram platform to shut down the narrative that Kohli has been too slow in T20s, especially after Kohli’s game-changing 62 off just 33 balls in RCB’s thrilling two-run win over Chennai Super Kings on May 3.
De Villiers, visibly pleased with Kohli’s intent and execution, didn’t hold back. “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,” he said in a video clip.
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He then turned his attention to the media and analysts who had criticized Kohli’s strike rate earlier in the season. “Nothing has ever changed… To all my journalist friends out there, I love you guys. But remember when you said Virat bats too slow? Virat was batting at almost a 200-strike rate last night. Eat that.”
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Kohli’s knock against Chennai featured five fours and five sixes and ended with a stunning strike rate of 187.88. It was a sharp response to those still talking about his 51 off 47 against Delhi Capitals on April 27 — an innings that, while anchoring the chase, reignited the age-old debate around his T20 tempo.
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Comparisons were made with Krunal Pandya’s brisk 73* off 47 in the same match, prompting media scrutiny once again. But Kohli, as he often does, let his bat do the talking. With 505 runs in 11 matches at an average of 63.13 and a strike rate of 143.47, he’s currently the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2025 — and, clearly, not done proving a point.
