Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, popularly known as AB de Villiers, is a cricket player hailing from South Africa. Born on February 17, 1984, in Pretoria, South Africa, de Villiers established himself as one of the greatest cricketers of his time with his extraordinary skills, versatility, and an unmatchable temperament on the field.
De Villiers’s talent was undeniable, and it transcended the boundaries of cricket. Known as a 360-degree batter, he could hit any ball anywhere, irrespective of the bowler’s skill. His ability to adapt and dominate the game made him a formidable force in the cricketing world. In addition to his batting prowess, de Villiers was a remarkable fielder, capable of taking astonishing catches with his agility and athleticism. He even possessed the skills to assume the role of a wicketkeeper if the situation demanded it.
Not limiting himself to cricket, de Villiers showcased his talent in various other sports as well. He excelled in rugby, golf, and tennis, proving himself to be a gifted athlete with a multitude of abilities.
One of the highlights of de Villiers’s career came in 2015 when he broke the world record for the fastest ODI hundred. In a breathtaking innings, he reached the milestone in just 31 balls, including striking the fastest ODI fifty and hitting 16 sixes. He also served as South Africa’s leading run-scorer and captain in the subsequent World Cup, although the team fell short of the finals.
De Villiers made his Test debut against England in 2004 as an opener, despite having played only 16 first-class matches. He showcased his versatility by batting at various positions in the middle order and proved to be successful in all of them. His breakthrough year in Test cricket was 2008, where he accumulated 1061 runs at an impressive average of 58.94. In the same year, he became the first South African player to achieve a double-century against India in Ahmedabad.
Throughout his career, de Villiers displayed exceptional consistency and reached great heights with the bat. In 2010 and 2013, he came close to surpassing his previous record-breaking performances, scoring 996 and 933 runs respectively. His highest individual score in Test cricket was a monumental 278 not out against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010, which stood as the highest by any South African until Hashim Amla surpassed it.
In addition to his prowess in Test cricket, de Villiers also left an indelible mark in limited-overs formats. He was appointed as the captain of the ODI and T20I teams, leading South Africa to several notable victories. However, he voluntarily stepped down from the captaincy and retired from international cricket in May 2018, citing exhaustion as the primary reason.
Outside of representing his country, de Villiers also made a significant impact in various T20 leagues across the world, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, he amassed nearly 5000 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 158.63 over 11 seasons, solidifying his status as a batting legend in the T20 format.
After the conclusion of the 2021 edition of the IPL, de Villiers decided to retire from all forms of cricket, leaving behind an illustrious career that has left an indelible impact on the sport. With his remarkable talent, versatility, and a flair for mesmerizing innings, AB de Villiers will forever be remembered as one of South Africa’s greatest cricketers and an icon in the world of cricket.
