IPL 2022: Top 5 AB de Villiers knock in IPL – AB de Villiers celebrated his 38th birthday on February 17th. Fans across the globe are showering him with wishes and are remembering his special knocks for South Africa and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL. De Villiers won’t turn out for any franchise during IPL 2022 having announced his retirement from all forms of cricket but he has left fans plenty of memories to cherish forever. Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
The 38-year-old started his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils, now known as Delhi Capitals in 2008. The precautious talent played three seasons for the franchise before playing a decade for RCB. Over the years, he has played many breathtaking knocks which have left fans and experts gasping for breath. Here at InsideSport, we take a look at De Villiers top five knocks in the IPL.
IPL 2022: Mr 360 AB de Villiers turns 38 – Check out his Top 5 memorable performances in IPL
105* Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings (2009)
It won’t be wrong to say that the right-hand batter became popular after his unbeaten 105 versus CSK back in 2009. Season two of IPL was held in South Africa and De Villiers had a fruitful season with the bat for DC. Against CSK, he came in a bit early and mixed caution with aggression. Later, he teed off in a typical manner and reached his first century of IPL.
He ended up unbeaten on 105 off just 54 balls and also won the match singlehandedly for his side.
IPL 2022: Mr 360 AB de Villiers turns 38 – Check out his Top 5 memorable performances in IPL
2: 89 unbeaten vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014)
This knock truly amplified De Villiers’ reputation as a modern-day genius. There was dexterity, power, and innovation in which we toyed with SRH bowlers. The right-hand batter made the bowlers clueless. At one point RCB were stating down the barrel as they needed 28 off the last two years. Dale Steyn was to bowl the penultimate over.
Most batters would have played Steyn cautiously, but not AB. He was ready to kill the run-chase in that over itself and smashed him three sixes and one four.
3: 133 unbeaten vs Mumbai Indians (2015)
Ab de Villiers was hurt that he could not take South Africa to their maiden victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. He was in the purple patch during that year and this time the sufferers were Mumbai Indians. The right-hand batter tore apart Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah. He only faced 59 balls and ended by scoring 133 runs at an insane strike rate of 225.42.
IPL 2022: Mr 360 AB de Villiers turns 38 – Check out his Top 5 memorable performances in IPL
4: 47 unbeaten vs Deccan Chargers (2012)
AB De Villiers did not score a fifty or a hundred but this knock is cherished by his fans due to his assault against Dale Steyn. Also, the situation was just ideal for him to get going from the ball one. The right-hand batter came into bat with the team needing 74 runs off 35 balls. He did not go bang from the word go and took some time to settle.
Steyn came onto the ball the 18th over and De Villiers scored 13 runs off his bowling. In the next over he scored 23 runs and calmly won the game for RCB with seven balls to spare.
IPL 2022: Mr 360 AB de Villiers turns 38 – Check out his Top 5 memorable performances in IPL
5: 73 unbeaten vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2020)
This knock was special as De Villiers announced retirement from international cricket in 2019. He came into the 2020 season of IPL with not much game time. The right-hand batter did not show any signs of slowing down as played a classic knock against KKR on a sluggish Sharjah wicket. When the majority of the batters struggled to get going, AB scored 73 off just 33 balls and proved to be the difference between the two teams.
IPL 2022: Mr 360 AB de Villiers turns 38 – Check out his Top 5 memorable performances in IPL
