• Source:JND
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IPL 2025: In a spirited defence of his former teammate, former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers, has taken a fearless stand against the chorus of critics questioning Virat Kohli's strike rate and coined a new nickname for his ex-Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate.

Kohli, who is enjoying a scorching run in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has so far scored 505 runs from 11 innings at an average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46.

The RCB opener has been Bengaluru's top order pillar as the side currently seated at the summit of the points table with eight wins from 11 matches, having 16 points to their name.

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Amid Kohli’s musical run, De Villiers has hurled down the gauntlet, declining to let the critics get the better of his batting legend friend while naming the batting superstar as ‘Mr Safety’ for RCB.

"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. 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," said De Villiers in a video shared on his Instagram account.

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Kohli’s performance this season has been stellar. The talismanic batter has so far scored seven fifty-plus scores in the season, marking his third-best in an IPL season, following 11 such runs in 2016.

Meanwhile, in context to RCB's performance in the tournament, the Rajat Patidar-led side is sitting at the top of the table with a strong chance to finish in the top two.