Ab De Villiers

AB de Villiers calls Kohli-Rohit a generational combo fans should honour

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are a "generational combo" of talent and cricket fans should celebrate the remainder of their glorious careers, says AB de Villiers while terming the critics of the two Indian superstars as "cockroaches". Facing intense scrutiny since last few months which saw both Kohli and Rohit retiring from Test cricket and T20Is, they made international comebacks during the recent ODI series in Australia, which India lost 1-2. It was their last tour of Australia and both Kohli and Rohit walked off on a high, with the former scoring 74 not out in his final innings Down Under and the latter winning the Player of the Series award after scores of 73 and 121 not out in the last two matches. "Rohit, another hundred. Back in the runs (is) the Biscotti, going strong and I am looking forward to what's sort of ahead," de Villiers said on his Facebook page. "I honestly just think, if you're a fan of cricket, it's just really time to celebrate players like these. It's not ofte

WCL 2025 smashes viewership records despite no IND vs PAK cricket match

The World Championship of Legends 2025 drew 409 million viewers worldwide, fuelled by AB de Villiers' comeback and record-breaking finals viewership.

Iyer's Asia Cup omission 'weird', says AB de Villiers, citing team factors

South African batting great AB de Villiers found it weird that a batter of Shreyas Iyer's calibre has been left out of India's Asia Cup squad and tried second guessing if his omission could be linked to what the batter could bring to the table for the team off the field. Iyer, who had an impressive domestic season and also led his IPL franchise Punjab Kings into the final by scoring more than 600 runs at a strike-rate of 170 plus, failed to find a place in the 15-member squad announced earlier this week. "It is tough, guys. I was just going through the squad. I was thinking, where can we fit Shreyas in, because I've seen all the headlines and some fans being upset. I think Shreyas will be the most upset because he's played some really good cricket over the last few years," De Villiers said during a live chat with cricket fans on X. "He's matured a lot. He has shown a lot of leadership qualities, but who knows what is going on behind closed doors? No one. Not me. Not you guys. "Mayb

Madagaon to cricket world: How a wrong SIM led to calls from Kohli and ABD

The moment was described with pride by Manish's father, Gajendra, a farmer, who said it was a matter of great happiness that Virat Kohli had been spoken to by his son

PAK champions vs SA champions Highlights, WCL 2025: AB de Villiers' 100 hands the title to SA

PAK vs SA WCL 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: South Africa beat Pakistan by 9 wickets in the final to lift the WCL 2025 title at Edgbaston courtesy of a brilliant partnership between ABD and JP Duminy.

AUS vs SA, WTC Final: AB de Villiers' golden advice for Test batters

The unpredictable nature of Lord's and the ever-present movement off the surface require players to approach their innings with caution and respect.

India can shine in Test series England if they believe, says AB de Villiers

India's young guns have the talent to achieve something special in the upcoming England Test series, provided they back themselves, said AB de Villiers here on Saturday, adding that it's time for the new generation to step up. With the 25-year-old Shubman Gill at the helm, India will start a new cycle of the World Test Championship with a five-Test tour of England next month without their seasoned campaigners in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both announced their retirement recently. India will also miss the services of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who retired during last year's tour of Australia, and senior pacer Mohammed Shami, who was not selected for this tour owing to his lack of fitness for the conventional format. "Yes, it's time for the younger guys to step up... Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility," de Villiers told the media on the sidelines of a NGO Project Mumbai event here. "There's lots of talent in India and largely credit to the IPL for that, (it is) rea

Game's not over till Bumrah bowls, hails MI's nerve vs GT: AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers and Robin Uthappa weigh in on MI's knockout win, Rohit Sharma's poise, and GT's missed chances

AB de Villiers backs Virat Kohli to play big hand in IPL 2025 final for RCB

South African batting great AB de Villiers is backing "ultimate team man" Virat Kohli to play a big hand in the IPL final and lead a multi-dimensional Royal Challengers Bengaluru outfit to its maiden title in the world's biggest T20 league. Chasing a paltry 102, RCB crushed Punjab Kings by eight wickets in the first qualifier here on Thursday to storm into the final of the 2025 edition of the league. One of their biggest performers this season, Kohli (12) missed out with the bat in the one-sided game, but his former RCB teammate De Villiers is confident the Indian superstar would fire in the title clash in Ahmedabad on June 3. "The first time I saw him on the screen for PBKS vs RCB game, was when he got out of the bus, and I just saw a lot of focus in that guy. That's the typical kind of body language we're so used to seeing. "And what I love most about this is -- he didn't score runs today, but we still saw him right till the end, celebrating with the batters," De Villiers told ..

Rohit to Dhoni: Players with most Player of the match award in IPL history

Dhoni is the oldest man (43 years, 280 days) to get the Player of the Match award in IPL when his blistering triumphant knock snapped Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) five-match losing streak in IPL 2025.

RCB's team balance is ten times better than before, says AB de Villiers

With Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) off to one of their best starts in the IPL, retired South African great AB de Villiers feels that the balance of the team looks "10 times better" than the previous editions and the head-start it has got will make the job easier going forward. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB crushed five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs at Chepauk on Friday to win their second straight away game. It was also RCB's first win against CSK in Chennai since the inaugural edition in 2008. "The balance of the RCB squad is 10 times better compared to previous seasons," the Bengaluru franchise loyalist said on his podcast 'AB de Villiers 360'. "At the (IPL) auction (last year), I spoke about RCB needing balance. It's not about the bowlers, batters or fielders... it's about having a sound balance in IPL teams and options," said the South African great, who played almost all his IPL for RCB. With India swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar drafted into the side for th

Kohli won't need to up his strike rate in Salt's presence: de Villiers

South African batting great AB de Villiers believes Virat Kohli should focus on playing smart cricket and continue controlling the game this season as RCB possess immense firepower with Phil Salt expected to ease the pressure on the Indian superstar. Despite being one of RCB's most consistent performers, Kohli's strike rate was a topic of discussion past two seasons. However, with the Bengaluru franchise acquiring the English duo of Salt and Liam Livingstone, along with Australian Tim David and West Indian Romario Shepherd -- all fearless strikers of the ball -- de Villiers feels Kohli can play with more freedom. "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," de Villiers said on JioStar Press Room on Tuesday. "Salt 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, pla

When Kohli texted de Villiers to not use RCB's 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' chants

If RCB do manage to end their trophy drought this season (IPL 2025), I will also come to celebrate with them, says AB de Villiers, who represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 18 seasons

De Villiers to Kohli: Check list of players with fastest centuries in ODIs

Virat Kohli holds the record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian batter

I always advocate rules that decrease the impact of toss: AB de Villiers

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers believes the impact player rule can be a little tricky

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)