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“Eat That” AB de Villiers Rips Into Kohli Doubters As King Roars Back With Near 200 Strike Rate

Poulomi Chakraborty

AB de Villiers Back Kohli (Source: @worshipVK/x.com)AB de Villiers Back Kohli (Source: @worshipVK/x.com)

IPL 2025 is delivering sky-high thrills, and in its 18th season, Virat Kohli is once again lighting up the stage with his brilliance. Despite that brilliance, he star batter finds himself under the scanner.

In the ongoing IPL season, Kohli is under fire for a dip in his strike rate compared to last year. But former RCB legend AB de Villiers silenced the critics with a fiery defense, backing his former teammate.

ABD Shuts Down The Critics

Even after retiring from the international T20s, Virat Kohli is raising his bat high in the ongoing IPL 2025. As the batter is showcasing his brilliance, the backlash over his low strike rate follows him everywhere. But in the last clash against the Chennai Super Kings, he silenced all his critics by playing an exceptional knock of 62 runs in 33 balls with a strike rate of 187.88.

Even after retiring from cricket, AB de Villiers never steps back from backing his former teammate. He defended Virat Kohli, calling him RCB’s "Mr. Safety" and reminding critics of his unmatched consistency, especially after Kohli’s explosive near-200 strike rate performance.

“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 a brain of an elephant,” de Villiers said.

“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,” he added.

King’s Unfaded Dominance In IPL 2025

It's the eighteenth season, and number 18 is grabbing attention with his unreal dominance. Despite stepping away from T20Is, Virat Kohli is showing no signs of slowing down, racking up 505 runs and seven fifties in just 11 matches, and is leading the orange cap race.

His latest half-century came against the CSK as he played a blistering knock of 62 runs in 33 balls with 5 boundaries and 5 towering sixes. While dominating over the opponents, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru is sitting at the top of the points table with 16 points. With this momentum, their dream of a maiden IPL trophy feels closer than ever.