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‘Takes Unnecessary…’: RCB Legend Drops Truth Bomb About Virat Kohli’s Criticism During IPL

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AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com]AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com]

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart, Virat Kohli has been no stranger to criticism. Whether it’s his strike rate, shot selection or even his place in certain formats, opinions have been flying thick and fast but AB de Villiers believes much of it has been unwarranted and unfair.

Speaking on Jio Hotstar, the former RCB batter threw his weight behind Virat Kohli and praised his ability to block out distractions when it matters the most.

AB de Villiers Defends Virat Kohli Against Unfair Criticism

De Villiers, who shared the dressing room with Kohli for several years, knows exactly how much pressure comes with being the face of a franchise like RCB. He pointed out that while criticism is part of the game, Kohli has been targetted far too often, despite performing consistently.

"I feel Virat has taken unnecessary criticism over the past few seasons. He’s batting incredibly well. Of course, outside noise might have influenced him—it happens to all of us. I experienced it in my playing days, too. Not necessarily in my performance, but you do think about it—we’re all human," de Villiers said.

The Proteas legend recalled how public perception can sometimes overshadow actual performances, something Kohli has had to deal with throughout his career.

AB de Villiers Explains How Kohli Shuts Out The Noise

One thing that separates Kohli from the rest, according to AB de Villiers, is his mental toughness. He admitted that while outside voices may creep in, Kohli has mastered the art of shutting everything out when he steps onto the field.

"The one thing about Virat is that when he crosses that line for his team, he blocks everything out—it’s business time. You could see the focus in his eyes during the Champions Trophy."

De Villiers also pointed out that despite stepping away from international T20 cricket, Kohli still has plenty left in the tank when it comes to the shortest format.

"He might have retired from international T20s, but I believe he’s still got a lot to offer. With RCB’s current batting lineup, I don’t think he’ll feel too much pressure. He just needs to go out there, play what’s in front of him, and that’s when he’s at his absolute best."

Meanwhile,  with IPL 2025 around the corner, Kohli will once again be under the microscope. Whether it’s his strike rate, captaincy discussions or just general expectations, criticism won’t stop. 

But as de Villiers pointed out, Kohli has never been one to let the noise get to him. RCB will begin their campaign against defending champions KKR on March 22 at Eden Gardens.