Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finished second at the end of the IPL 2025 group stage and now head on to play the Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), thus securing two chances to qualify for the final. They defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a thrilling game to achieve this feat. The bowling was not up to the mark in this game as they conceded 227 in the first innings. The commentators also criticized this bowling performance, but RCB legend and former South Africa captain AB de Villiers was not happy with this.

In a video on his YouTube Channel, de Villiers said that he got angry listening to the commentators'negative remarks on the RCB bowling, and the fact they were losing momentum. He said that the commentators never considered the possibilty that the pitch is Lucnkow was excellent for batting. He even said that Rishabh Pant would not have scored a century had it not been a batting track.

"I listened to the commentators last night, and honestly, it got me so angry. They were so negative when we were bowling. They kept saying, 'RCB's bowling is under pressure. They don't look like they're going to manage it. Once again, an in-form team is starting to lose momentum.' But what about this-maybe it was just a really good batting wicket, guys? To all you very clever and sharp commentators out there, how about considering the possibility that it was an excellent surface for batting?" he said.

"They went on about how RCB's bowling unit was once again in poor form. As I watched the match, I thought: sometimes commentators get fixated on a narrative. Yes, RCB have never won a title, but it's lazy to keep saying, 'Here we go again. The bowlers are failing, they're useless,' without properly analysing what's happening on the field. Rishabh Pant is not going to score 118 off 60-odd balls on a tricky, very difficult pitch.

RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first vs LSG. After a stuttering start, the duo of Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant smashed the RCB bowlers all over the park. Marsh departed after scoring 67, but Pant roared back into form as he smashed his second IPL hundred, with a brilliant 118 from 61 balls. LSG scored 227/3 at the end of the 20 overs.

RCB got off to a good start in the run-chase with VIrat Kohli scoring a record 62nd half-century. After they lost a couple of wickets in the middle, captain Jitesh Sharma stole the show with an 85-run knock. He stitched an unbeaten 107-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mayank Agarwal, as they guided RCB to a 4-wicket win, as they finished in the second spot in the points table.

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