Ab De Villiers

You're the most talented cricketer I've played with: Kohli to de Villiers

Virat Kohli on Wednesday described AB de Villiers as "the most talented cricketer" he has played with after the South African great was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. De Villers was included in the long list of great players along with England legend Alastair Cook and India's Neetu David. In an open letter to the inductees by those close to them, Kohli was effusive in praise of his teammate at IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru. "You are thoroughly deserving of your place after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique," he wrote. "People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one." Kohli described de Villiers' belief and doggedness to uphold the game's values as the qualities that had an impact on the psyche of those watching. "A lot of players can have impressive numbers but very few have an impact on the psyche of those

T20 World Cup 2024: ABD laments racial quota chatter around SA squad

A B de Villiers is not surprised that just days before South Africa renews it quest for an elusive World Cup, the talk back home is all about racial quota in the team. It's a rinse-and-repeat sort of situation and de Villiers, who retired in 2018, is glad that he is a mere spectator to the situation now. "...it's a shame going into a tournament to have the focus on that. I mean it's nothing new, it's just a shame," lamented one of the greats of South African cricket. "Luckily this time around, I've had nothing to do with anything over there. I'm just a spectator," the 40-year-old said in an interaction with PTI facilitated by 'Jio Cinema'. The cause of outrage is the presence of just one black player in the squad for the T20 showpiece that will take place in the Americas from June 1. Considered the perennial bridesmaids, who tend to choke in crunch situations, South Africa somehow are always in the pre-tournament favourites bracket without actually living up to the tag. And havin

Dhoni should be CSK captain as long as he is playing IPL: AB de Villiers

MS Dhoni's future at Chennai Super Kings is a matter of intense speculation and the great AB de Villiers reckons that the World Cup-winning captain must lead his side, if at all he decides to play another IPL season. CSK have won five titles under Dhoni's leadership and the two share a bond like no other. Looking at the future, Dhoni had handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the IPL 2024 opener. Gaikwad did not do a bad job as a captain and a batter but CSK could not make the IPL play-offs. Dhoni's future in the IPL remains a subject of debate as he has left everyone guessing. He retired from international cricket in 2020. With due respect to Gaikwad, de Villiers had called the captaincy change a mistake at the start of the season and on Wednesday he stood by his remarks. "I will only give you an honest answer if you're going to report it in the right way yes so I wouldn't say I called it a mistake. What I meant by that was with MS Dhoni around, playing against

T20 World Cup 2024: Virat enjoys opening the innings - AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli has had roaring success as opener in the IPL including the current season but his good friend AB de Villiers reckons the Indian superstar is best suited to bat at number three in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean. Kohli has amassed 708 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season thus far at a 150 plus strike rate, shutting the critics who questioned his intent against spinners in the middle overs earlier in the tournament. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal make for a potent right-left opening combination but to accommodate Suryakumar Yadav at number three, Kohli could be asked to open at the expense of Jaiswal in the ICC event beginning June 1. However, De Villiers feels the former India captain opening is not a good idea. "I feel he's a number three batsman and that's where he's most impactful. He's almost like the captain of the batting team everywhere he goes. He keeps the calmness and the composure within the batting unit," the South African

MS Dhoni to AB de Villiers: Batters who hit most sixes in 20th over of IPL

With 65 sixes and counting in 313 balls, Dhoni tops the chart of most sixes hit in the 20th over of an IPL match. The veteran Indian batter is followed by Kieron Pollard (33 sixes)

IPL 2024: Highest individual scores in the history of Indian Premier League

Here are the top five high-scorers in the history of the Indian Premier League. The list has only one Indian who currently plays for a franchise from the northern part of India

Ashwin has not always got enough credit for what he is: AB de Villiers

South African batting great AB de Villiers on Wednesday called Ravichandran Ashwin a legend and said the senior India spinner has not always got enough credit for his service. Ashwin claimed his 500th Test wicket in the third match against England to join a rare list of legends. De Villiers heaped praise on the 37-year-old and said, "What a fantastic achievement! Congratulations Ash, you are one of the toughest bowlers I have ever played against - an incredible asset for the Indian cricket team with both bat and ball. "He's been a stalwart, but not always getting enough credit for what he is and the role he plays in the Indian team. What a legend!" De Villiers advised England's batters to stay positive and use their feet a lot more against Ashwin in the remaining two Tests of the five-match series. India lead the series 2-1 after their massive 434-run win in the third Test in Rajkot. "The one thing that stands out is he's (Ashwin) a tall guy, so he's got natural variation and bou

Dhoni named skipper of IPL's all-time greatest team; Kohli chosen as opener

Iconic Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Sunday selected as the leader of IPL's all-time greatest team which was picked to celebrate the success of world's most-popular T20 league which was launched in 2008. The selection panel consisted of former cricketers Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody and Dale Steyn. About 70 journalists were also part of the selection process. Australia's fiery David Warner and India's batting main stay Virat Kohli were chosen as openers while 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle was given the number three spot in batting order. The middle-order consisted of Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav and Dhoni, while Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Kieron Pollard were the three all-rounders in the 15-member squad. Rashid Khan, wily Sunil Narine and Yuzvendra Chahal formed the spin attack while Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah were the unanimous choice for the fast bowlers' slots. The marquee tournament will complete 16 years of the first-eve

I made a terrible mistake, shared false info on Virat Kohli: AB de Villiers

Former South Africa captain A B de Villiers has said that he "made a terrible mistake" by sharing "false information" about the personal reasons that have forced star India batter Virat Kohli to take a break from international cricket, insisting that he has no idea "what's happening there". On his Youtube channel a few days ago, de Villiers had claimed that Kohli opted out of the first two Tests of the ongoing home series against England due to the impending arrival of his second child with actor wife Anushka Sharma. On Thursday night, he back-tracked on that statement in an interaction with select media on the sidelines of the ongoing SA T20 here. "Family comes first, it's priority as I said on my Youtube channel. I also made a terrible mistake at the same time, sharing false information that was not true at all," de Villiers, who is the brand ambassador of the event, said. "I just think that whatever is best for Virat and his family comes first, no one knows what's happening ther

You have to blame T20s: De Villiers on India-SA series featuring two Tests

On the Proteas' selection for the New Zealand tour, which coincides with the second season of SA20 from January 10 to February 10, the former batter said that Test cricket is under pressure

Delhi didn't keep promise to retain me: AB de Villiers recalls 2010 snub

One of the greatest batters of modern era, AB de Villiers has revealed that he was snubbed by erstwhile Delhi Daredevils after spending three seasons at the IPL franchise. Before making it big at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the South African batting legend had three lukewarm season with the Delhi franchise, now known as Delhi Capitals. But in a team meeting, also attended by explosive Australian opener David Warner, de Villiers was told that he was going to be "retained" but it happened otherwise as the franchise released him before the 2011 auction. Recalling the incident in his YouTube channel, 'AB de Villiers 360', the former South African skipper said: "When I played in the 2010 season, I got called into the office and was told you are going to get retained, young AB de Villiers'." "I sat alongside David Warner in that meeting. It came as a huge surprise to me a week or two later when I realised I had been released. "So the communication wasn't great back in the day, that

ICC names Sachin Tendulkar as Global Ambassador for ODI World Cup 2023

Sachin Tendulkar is set to walk out with the trophy ahead of the opener between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad

CWC 2023: SKY needs minor mindset shift to crack ODI code - AB de Villiers

Former South African captain AB de Villiers feels that India's No. 1 T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav needs a slight tweak in his mindset in order to replicate his success in the 50-over format. The world No. 1 in shortest format, who has managed to hold onto his spot in India's squad for the upcoming World Cup, averages a poor 24.33 in ODIs, with only two half-centuries in 24 innings with a strike-rate of 101.38. Suryakumar himself has referred to numbers as "really bad". Suryakumar, who has modelled his batting in De Villiers 360-degree hitting style, has found a fan in the South African. "You guys know I'm a big fan (of Surya). He plays in a similar manner to how I used to play, but in ODIs, he hasn't cracked it yet," the South African said on his YouTube channel 'AB de Villiers 360'. "It is a tiny little mind switch that he's got to make, and he's got all the ability and capabilities that he needs to do that," he added. "I am very relieved to see SKY in the World Cup squad, I'm ve

World Cup: AB de Villiers calls Virat Kohli perfect No.4 for Team India

Virat Kohli would be the perfect answer for India's No.4 conundrum at the World Cup as he can put the innings together and play any kind of role in the middle order, feels South Africa great AB de Villiers. India have struggled to find a suitable No.4 ever since Yuvraj Singh retired from cricket. With the 50-over World Cup less than two months away, there has been a lot of discussion around who will bat at the spot. "We're still talking about who will be the No. 4 batter for India. I've heard some rumours about Virat possibly taking up that position. I would be a big supporter of that," de Villiers said on his Youtube channel. "I think Virat is perfect for No. 4. He can put the innings together, play any kind of role in that middle order. I don't know if he would like to do that. "We know he loves his No. 3 position; he's scored all his runs there, but at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something, play a certain role, you have got to put your hand up and got for it,

CONFIRMED! Andy Flower appointed as new RCB head coach ahead of IPL 2024

With the appointment of Flower of head coach, there have been some speculations that the Bangalore-based franchise might bring AB de Villiers to the coaching set-up as well

Kohli best in business: De Villiers compares him to Federer, Woods, Messi

Former South Africa captain and RCB teammate of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers compared him to the greatest sportspersons around the world

T20 World Cup: De Villiers predicts India in final, England no pushovers

Indian Premier League (IPL) and South Africa cricket legend AB de Villiers has picked India as favourites to mke the final of the T20 World Cup 2022. But he also said that England are no pushovers

I have a role to play in South Africa cricket and RCB, says AB de Villiers

One of contemporary cricket's greatest batters, De Villiers had retired from all forms of game in November last year

AB de Villiers has had a massive impact on my career: Harshal Patel

Recalling the valuable advice South African great AB de Villiers gave him during the IPL, India seamer Harshal Patel said his former RCB teammate has had a massive impact on his career

AB de Villers has had massive impact on my career, says Harshal Patel

India pacer Harshal Patel said he has been a silent observer of AB de Villiers and the former South African batter has had a massive impact on the fast bowler's career