Abraham Benjamin de Villiers - a name that needs no introduction. We always fail to find the words to perfectly describe this South African superstar's brilliance.
De Villiers is a name that easily sends shivers down the spine of any bowler across the globe.
The world probably has not seen such an audacious, unconventional, yet extremely productive batsman ever in cricketing history.
De Villiers cannot be categorized as a particular type of batsman, as he is one of a kind. He is that kind of a batsman who entertains any cricket lover with his sublime stroke play and out-of-this-world skills.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star can make an impact in any game and in any format. He can assert his dominance in no time and take the game away from the opponents single-handedly, while also being able to play the waiting game, with his adaptability being one of his greatest assets.
De Villiers took a while to reach his peak in Test and the one-day cricket, but when he did, it was worth the wait.
De Villiers' last 30 Test matches has produced 2617 runs, at an astounding average of over 60. He has also added eight centuries to his name during that time.
In 2015, De Villiers played 20 ODI games and he managed to score 1193 runs with five centuries and five half-centuries.
The swashbuckling right hander celebrates his 32nd birthday on Wednesday and here is a look at some of his best innings.
1. 149 against West Indies in the 2nd ODI of the four-match series in Johannesburg (2014):
De Villiers scored the fastest ever century in the 50-over format against West Indies. It took him 31 balls to reach that milestone. He went on to score 149 runs, in which he smashed nine fours and 16 sixes.
Check out the innings here:
2. 162 against West Indies in a Pool B match in the ICC World Cup 2015 in Syndney:
De Villiers went hammer and tongs in this particular match. The way he launched an attack on the West Indian bowling lineup, it looked like he could easily break his previous record. He ended up scoring 162 runs from just 66 balls in that innings, making it one of his special ones.
Check out the innings here:
3. 119 against India in the final ODI of the five-match series in Mumbai (2015):
It was a do-or-die match for both sides. South Africa had won the toss and opted to bat first. They were on a roll with Quniton de Kock and Faf du Plessis on the list of century makers in that match. But De Villiers' 119 from just 61 balls overshadowed the other two. It powered South Africa to a total of 438 runs. India suffered a crushing defeat by 214 runs in that game and also lost the ODI series 3-2.
Check out the highlights here:
4. 101 against England in the fifth ODI in Cape Town (2016):
England had set a modest target of 237 runs. This was also a do-or-die game for both England and the Proteas. South Africa were in all sorts of trouble while chasing, but one man stood tall, completing his 24th ODI hundred and with it helping South Africa win yet another ODI series. This was De Villiers' ninth series-defining performance of his career.
Watch the highlights here:
5. And one from the IPL -- 133 for RCB against the Mumbai Indian in IPL 2015 in Mumbai:
De Villiers came into bat pretty early on in the innings and he had Virat Kohli as his partner at the other end of the wicket. He almost turned Kohli into a spectator as he went on to score 133 runs from just 59 balls. RCB posted a huge total of 235 runs, after De Villiers' blitzkrieg.
Watch the full highlights of the match here:
