As the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches, all eyes, as expected, are on Virat Kohli. With the IPL 2025 opener looming, the biggest question is how the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star will tackle the season, now that he's retired from international T20Is. Last year, the right-hander faced flak from some quarters over his strike rate, with his outings against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur drawing particular scrutiny from pundits.

Though Kohli notched up runs in both matches, his approach left fans and analysts wanting more. Despite batting in favourable conditions, he didn’t unleash the aggression many expected, and RCB’s losses in those games only fuelled the debate around his scoring tempo. The scrutiny intensified as the T20 World Cup squad selection neared, with critics questioning whether Kohli still had the intent and firepower to dominate from start to finish.

AB de Villiers, the South African and RCB icon – and a close friend of Kohli – came out in his support, suggesting that the former India captain often faces undue criticism. He also noted how the 'outside noise' occasionally gets under Kohli's skin. Last season, Kohli didn't shy away from addressing the chatter. In post-match presentations, he made it clear he's attuned to the media buzz, even taking aim at commentators with a pointed remark: it's easy to critique from a box, far removed from the heat of the battle on the field.

"I feel Virat's taken unnecessary criticism over the last few seasons. I feel he's batting incredibly well. There's no doubt some of the outside noise has maybe influenced him a bit. We're all human, after all. There was lots of outside noise in my playing days that had an effect on me, not necessarily my performance, but you do think about it. You're only human," said AB de Villiers during Star Sports Press Room on Explosive Rankings while replying to a Hindustan Times query.

"You go to your hotel room and think, am I still good enough? Should I still be here? Must I ask the coach to maybe bat in a different position? Am I doing the right thing for the team? So Virat, being a great team-man and only a human being after all, definitely has those doubts in his head. But the one thing about Virat is he's always had the ability to, when it matters most, cross that line for his team, block everything out, and it's business time. You could see the focus in his eyes at the Champions Trophy."

de Villiers also believes Virat has much left in the tank despite his retirement from T20Is. "And yes, he might have called retirement on international T20 cricket, but I feel there's plenty left in the tent for Virat, especially with a batting line-up. RCB has got this season. I don't think Virat's going to feel a lot of pressure. He can just really go out there and play what he sees in front of him. And that is when Virat is at his absolute best when he plays the situation," he said.

de Villiers also reckons Virat Kohli doesn't need to be too concerned with his strike rate this season as Phil Salt will do the bulk of the job.

"Virat seems to be enjoying his cricket. I don't think he's going to have to up his strike rate batting with Phil Salt. He is one of the most attacking players we've ever seen. I think he's going to take a lot of pressure off Virat. Virat needs to continue what he's been doing for so many years, control the game, play smart cricket," he said.

"He's got the best instinct of any player out there. He knows when to up the ante a bit and when to lower it. Virat needs to be the captain of the batting department in this tournament and really just keep things together, play smart cricket to make sure they don't find those collapses in the batting order," he added.

Rajat Patidar should remain cautious of his 'insecurities'

AB de Villiers conveyed his respect for Rajat Patidar’s surprising selection as the captain of RCB. Many supporters had anticipated that Virat Kohli would assume the leadership role, particularly following the franchise's decision to part ways with Faf du Plessis. However, RCB caught everyone off guard by appointing the Madhya Pradesh batsman as captain. The former South African captain emphasized that Patidar must eliminate any feelings of insecurity and concentrate on his responsibilities.

"I believe his primary challenge will be dealing with insecurity. He is stepping into the significant shoes of past captains like Virat, and having Virat around may lead to self-doubt. Questions like 'Am I making the right decisions?' or 'What would Virat do?' could hinder him. This, I think, is his greatest hurdle, and the way to overcome it is to consistently remind himself of the reasons he is in this position," he stated.

"Why was I chosen? There must be a valid reason for it, and now is the time for me to have faith in that and remain authentic to myself, rather than trying to lead like Virat or Faf. He should lead as Rajat Patidar. He can draw on the experiences of Virat, Andy Flower, and other players, but it is crucial to remain true to his own identity. That, in my opinion, is the advice I would offer to Patidar," he continued.

RCB will commence their IPL 2025 journey on March 22, facing the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. de Villiers emphasizes the importance of Josh Hazlewood maintaining his fitness throughout the season if RCB hopes to end their title drought.

"RCB possesses a remarkably well-balanced team. I believe their schedule will pose a greater challenge than the absence of a premier spinner. They seem to be missing an X-factor spinner, correct? Krunal Pandya is an excellent spinner; we have witnessed his consistent performances over the years, and he can also contribute with the bat. They have other alternatives as well. However, what I appreciate most about this team is their overall balance, which will serve them well, particularly given their demanding schedule that requires them to travel to various venues frequently. They have the most challenging schedule of all. But just look at that batting lineup," de Villiers remarked.

"It is sheer power. There is a blend of strength and control. I believe Virat will truly enjoy batting alongside Phil Salt. In terms of the bowling unit, Bhuvi Kumar's experience will be invaluable. If we can keep Josh Hazlewood fit for the entire season, I am confident that RCB will have a successful campaign. We need to protect Hazlewood diligently."

Read Also: Haris Rauf Responds to Critics: 'In Pakistan, People Wait for Us to Lose'

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