‘He bats too slow right? Eat that’ – AB de Villiers slams Virat Kohi’s critics

AB de Villiers took a dig at Virat Kohli’s critics after the 52nd match of the IPL 2025 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Notably, Kohli scored 62 off 33 balls against CSK with five fours and as many sixes in RCB’s narrow two-run win. It was not a typical knock from Kohli, as a majority of his runs came through boundaries with his strike rate being an impressive 187.87.

Meanwhile, taking to Instagram, former RCB star de Villiers highlighted Kohli’s strike rate against a quality bowling attack like CSK and praised him as RCB’s  “Mr. Safety”, someone on whom a team can always rely. The South African star felt that one does not have to fear when Kohli bats in the middle. He called out media and journalists, reminding them of their criticism around Kohli’s strike rate. 

“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 the brain of an elephant,” de Villiers said in an Instagram video on his account. 

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Virat is there batting at almost a 200 strike rate last night. Eat that: AB De Villiers

While he claimed to love his fellow friends in journalism, Kohli’s former teammate asked them to “eat” their words after Kohli’s performance against CSK at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

“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,” de Villiers reminded Virat’s critics.