Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden hail praise on AB de Villiers for his superb knock in IPL 2021 opener

Legendary batsman Brian Lara and Matthew lavished praises on AB de Villiers for his brilliant knock of 48 runs in just 27 balls to ensure the boys in red and gold cross the line against mighty Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 encounter.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians repeated the same feat in IPL from 2012 onwards where they haven’t won their first game of the cash rich league.

Taking about the match, Kohli won the toss and decided to field first and with the way Surya Kumar Yadav and Chris Lynn were batting at one stage 200 was looking a score that Mumbai will be setting against RCB. But due to individual brilliance of Harshal Patel who is traded from Delhi Capitals this year took five wickets and became the first bowler in the history of IPL to clinch fiver against Mumbai Indians.

Eventually Mumbai finished their 20 overs on 159 runs at the loss of eight wickets. When RCB came out to bat they were looking initially to chase down the target with ease but the crucial bowling by the likes of Bumrah and Boult ended 52 run stand between Maxwell and Kohli.

It was all down to one man Mr 360 to see them across the line and he didn’t disappointed his fans with the way he paced his innings especially against the likes of Bumrah and Boult to make sure that Bangalore based franchise start on a winning note against Mumbai Indians.

Speaking at the post match analysis at Star Sports, legendary players like Lara and Hayden described him as “timeless” as they both applauded the way De Villiers paced his innings in this important run chase as if he knew when to attack and when to defend.

“He is timeless. He has got the experience. IPL is the only form of cricket he is playing at the moment. I suppose he is keeping fit and ready for it. At this stage, when they lost Virat Kohli, RCB needed him to come good. He was explosive at the right time; he controlled the game. He came in after Glenn Maxwell as well; he controlled the game and got them home,” said Lara as quoted by HT.

“Absolutely remarkable performance from ABD. No question. He had that presence of mind, just knowing when to go and when to hold back. But that most important thing is that rotation of strike that we saw and the clean striking of the ball,” said Hayden.