Batting maestro Virat Kohli has got a new nickname from his former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate AB De Villiers. The South African legendary batter not only gave Virat Kohli a new nickname but also strongly defended him against criticism regarding his strike rate in the ongoing IPL 2025.
AB De Villiers has bestowed a new nickname, 'Mr. Safety,' upon the former RCB captain. Kohli has been in exceptional form this season, currently holding the position of the tournament's highest run-scorer. The RCB opener has so far scored 505 runs in a total of 11 matches riding on a remarkable average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46.
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Virat is always there. He is Mr. Safety for RCB: AB De Villiers
Virat Kohli's consistent performance has been a cornerstone of RCB's success this season, as the team currently occupies a comfortable top position in the IPL 2025 points table. Amidst Kohli's stellar run, AB de Villiers has lauded the batting juggernaut for his exceptional form and introduced the moniker 'Mr. Safety' to acknowledge his reliable and crucial contributions to RCB's batting lineup. Moreover, De Villiers directly addressed Kohli's critics, specifically referencing his strike rate during a notable innings against CSKto counter the negative commentary.
"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," De Villiers said in a video shared on his Instagram account.
Kohli played an instrumental knock in a nail-biting clash against Chennai Super Kings recently. The 36-year-old played a blistering knock of 62 runs off just 33 balls which was laced with five boundaries and as many sixes, contributing to RCB's formidable total of 213 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Ultimately, the Rajat Patidar-led RCB managed to secure a thrilling two-wicket win over CSK which propelled them to the top of the IPL 2025 points table. In a total of 11 matches, RCB have 16 points under their belt and are just one win away from sealing the coveted playoff spot. RCB will next face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 9 before locking horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 13 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 17.