‘How Many IPL Centuries Have You Scored?’ AB de Villiers Hits Back At Critics Questioning Virat Kohli’s Strike Rate

Virat Kohli currently holds the Orange Cap in IPL 2023

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Ab de Villiers has hit back at critics for ‘irrelevant’ denunciation of Virat Kohli on social media. With an ever-raging debate still surrounding the former Bengaluru skipper’s batting strike rate, De Villiers has finally voiced that he has had enough.

Speaking on an Instagram reel, the ex-batter said, “Virat Kohli catching criticism about his strike rate, it has been going quite so long. I am sort of fed up with it now. I am frustrated, to say the least”.

In the video, he added, “I’ve pretty much had enough of data-driven hundreds who keep criticising this man when you don’t really have knowledge of the game. How many games of cricket have you played? How many IPL hundreds have you scored?”

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AB de Villiers, one of Virat Kohli’s closest friends in and outside cricket, voiced his concern against the wrongful criticism of the Indian batter, this is what he wrote in the video’s caption – “Enough with the unnecessary and irrelevant criticism”. He further spoke about how Kohli plays the sport with a different approach than most cricketers, which is why he’s one of the most successful batters of all time.

“This guy is one of the best players to ever play the game of cricket. He’s incredible in the IPL, he plays a certain role for RCB”, the ex-cricketer added.

Quoting one of Virat Kohli’s interviews about his strike rate, Ab de Villiers further talked about how it’s entirely up to the team and coach to strategise around the Indian batter’s cricket style.

“Day in and day out, he’s won games for the teams playing in a certain way. He’s got a formula and it’s up to the rest of the team and the coach, the captain to strategise around it”, the ex-cricketer concluded.

A lot has been said and discussed about Virat Kohli’s strike rate in the IPL recently. He has often been at the end of some backlash from fans and pundits for approaching the T20 format rather slowly.

However, Kohli hasn’t let the criticism get to him. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener produced yet another stellar knock in the IPL against the Punjab Kings. Playing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on May 9, Kohli added a lightning-fast 47-ball 92 against the 2014 finalists. His knock proved to be crucial for Bengaluru as the team picked up a convincing victory while also recording a fourth-successive win in the tournament.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently in seventh place in the IPL. They will have to win both of their next games to have a chance of making the playoffs this season. Bengaluru will next take on the Delhi Capitals this weekend. The match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 12.