Best Innings of AB De Villiers in IPL
Talent and AB De Villiers are often synonymous. The South African cricketer is hailed as one of the most prolific run-scorers in world cricket. With an array of shots in his armoury, AB De Villiers is a crowd puller.
While De Villiers has retired from international cricket, however, he continues to set the stadiums alight in the franchise T20 tournament. He is a household name in the Indian Premier League. The former South African skipper boasts of outstanding numbers in IPL.
AB De Villiers has been around in the cash-rich tournament since its inception. After making a significant contribution to Delhi Daredevils in his formative years, he switched to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 and the rest is history.
AB de Villiers has been one of the most prolific run-scorers for RCB over the years. He has remained in the top-three run-getters for the franchise for most of the seasons. In his illustrious IPL career so far, de Villiers tallied 4395 runs in 154 matches at an average and strike rate of 39.95and 151.24 respectively.
5 Best Innings of AB De Villiers in IPL
In this article, we look at top 5 Best Batting Performance of AB de Villiers in IPL:
#1. AB De Villiers’ knock of 105 Runs off 54 balls against CSK in 2009
For the uninitiated, AB De Villiers started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils, now known as Delhi Capitals. He’s played three seasons for Delhi before moving to RCB. De Villiers made a valuable contribution in the 2009 edition for Delhi Daredevils. He scored 465 runs in 15 matches and finished the season as the leading run-getter for the side.
His best knock that season came against Chennai Super Kings where the South African cricketer smashed 105 runs off 54 balls, including 5 fours and six sixes.
Batting first, Delhi Daredevils had lost two quick wickets for just 8 runs in 2 overs. Dilshan then joined hands with de Villiers, as both of them shared a 68-run alliance between them for the third wicket before Dilshan got out after making a valuable half-century off just 27 balls.
De Villiers, however, remained till then end and sent the bowlers to a leather hunt. He whacked five fours and six sixes on his way to hit the maiden century of his IPL career.
De Villiers’ century powered Delhi to 189 in their 20 overs. To their credit, Delhi restricted CSK to 180 runs in their 20 overs, eventually winning the game by 9 runs.
Also Read: Top 5 Innings of MS Dhoni in IPL
#2 AB De Villiers’ knock of 47 runs off 17 balls against Deccan Chargers in 2012
Best Innings of AB De Villiers in IPL: In his second season for a new franchise in Royal Challengers Bangalore, AB De Villiers put up an exhibition of runs for the side. Averaging close to 40, he amassed 319 runs in 16 matches. 2012 edition saw him scoring some stellar knocks but no better than 17-ball 47 against Deccan Chargers.
The game will always be remembered for de Villiers belligerence against Dale Steyn in the 18th over of the innings and sits at fourth in our list of top 5 innings of AB De Villiers in IPL.
Batting first, Deccan Chargers posted a daunting 181-run total in the first innings.
After putting up a 91-run stand for the opening wicket, RCB lost three quick wickets for 26 wickets. With 64 runs needed in 28 balls, RCB only had one hope in the form of AB de Villiers. Much to their delight, the South African lit the Chinnaswamy stadium with a flurry of boundaries. He made 47 runs off just 17 deliveries as RCB chased down the total with 7 balls remaining.
Also Read: Top 5 Innings of Rohit Sharma in IPL
#3 AB de Villiers’ knock- 89 runs off 41 balls against SRH in 2014
Best Batting Performance of AB de Villiers in IPL: AB De Villiers, over the years, has been the saviour for RCB every time their top order crumbles without much hassle. The match against SRH in the 2014 edition was also one such occasion.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, at that time, had one of the fierce attacks among all other franchises. Having posted 155 in their 20 overs, RCB knew it won’t be an easy task to chase the total with ease.
What followed were 4 quick wickets inside 10 overs for 59 runs as Yuvraj Singh and AB De Villiers had some work to do. Yuvraj Singh though got out on 14, AB De Villiers exhibited a show, hitting 6 fours and 8 sixes. He scored 89 runs off just 41 balls, helping the side chase down the total with just 1 ball remaining.
Once it was Dale Steyn who was tore apart by the former South African skipper. In the penultimate innings of the over, de Villiers whacked three fours and one four to Steyn and thereby took the game away completely from the opposition.
Also Read: Top 5 Innings of Virat Kohli in IPL
#2 AB de Villiers’ knock of 129 runs off 52 balls against GL
Best Innings of AB De Villiers in IPL: The 44th match between RCB and Gujarat Lions will always be regarded as one of the most memorable matches in the history of the Indian Premier League. Two of the best batsmen of the current era, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers put together a stellar show at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The duo shared a 229-run partnership for the second wicket, escorting the team to a mammoth 248-run total in the first innings.
AB De Villiers scored an unbeaten knock of 129 runs off 52 balls which was laced with 10 fours and as many as 12 sixes. It took just 43 deliveries for the South African to reach his hundred. Skipper Virat Kohli amassed 109 runs off 55 balls.
In pursuit of the mammoth total, Gujarat Lions crumbled for 104 to hand RCB a massive 144-run victory. Chris Jordan produced a stellar spell of 11 for 4 in his three overs.
Also Read: Top 3 Innings of Glenn Maxwell in IPL
#1 AB de Villiers’ knock of 133 runs off 59 balls against Mumbai Indians in 2015
Arguably, the best knock of AB de Villiers in his entire IPL career. Coming in number three, De Villiers wasted no time and went after the bowlers, right from the word go. Sharing a 215-run partnership with Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers scored his highest IPL score of 133 runs off 59 balls.
He smashed 19 fours and 4 sixes en route to his second century in the IPL. This is the best Best Batting Performance of AB de Villiers in IPL so far.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, scored 82 runs off 50 balls as RCB posted 235 runs in the first innings. Mumbai Indians fought hard with the bat but could only manage to score 196 as RCB won the game by 39 runs.
Lendl Simmons stayed unbeaten at 68, while Kieron Pollard too contributed with 49 runs off 24 balls.
