Facts
Top 10 Most Interesting Things About Ab De Villiers
Ab De Villiers: In life, we think we know a lot of things, a lot of people, and a lot of things about those a lot of people, especially when it comes to our favorite celebrities or athletes. However, there are times when we overlook certain extremely intriguing facts because they are overwhelmed by their other sports qualifications.
The same may be said about South Africa’s AB de Villiers. We all know him as a superb batsman, a good wicket-keeper, and an all-around fantastic player who can do it all, including recording the quickest ODI century and half-century ODI from South Africa and playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Here are some interesting things about Mr. 360.
The all-sports guy
He is a true all-rounder, not only in cricket but also in a variety of other sports. AB de Villiers began his hockey career in the U16 division at his school. Soon after, he was named to South Africa’s junior national hockey squad. Six South African school swimming records are held by AB.
He was also a member of the school’s rugby squad, the Affies’ 1st XV. He excelled at the sport and was chosen for the Blue Bulls U-18 side, which included numerous South African National players. AB de Villiers did not stop there; he also played for the national U19 badminton team.
AB was a part of South Africa’s Junior Davis Cup Tennis Team. To top it all off, he was an extraordinarily fit athlete who had won a number of 100-meter events at school. AB enjoys golf as well and is no novice!
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The Big Stage Man
AB de Villiers has a strong track record at World Cups. During the 2011 World Cup, he became the first South African to smash two consecutive tonnes.
He has three World Cup Man of the Match accolades, the second-most by a South African after Lance Klusener’s five. De Villiers guided his team to the World Cup semi-finals in 2015.
He recorded the quickest 150 in ODIs when he struck 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies. He finished the competition as the tournament’s third-highest run-getter, with 482 runs scored at an average of 96.
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Music Enthusiast
AB de Villiers is a man with many talents. He is a vocalist who has his own band of musicians with whom he performs. A few times, AB performed at the ICC Awards.
He even released a song called ‘Show them who you are,’ which became extremely famous and was used as an anthem when South Africa defeated Australia in 2009.
AB de Villiers partnered with South African Ampie Du Preez on their debut music album, “Maak Jou Drome Waar,” in 2010. (Make Your Dreams Come True).
During an interview with Siddharth Mallya, co-owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, he even sang a Hindi song called “Yeh Dosti hum nai todenge” (We won’t destroy this relationship).
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Historic win at Perth
In the first Test in Perth, de Villiers hit a match-winning century to help South Africa chase down the second-highest fourth-innings goal in the history of 414 with six wickets in hand.
South Africa’s first Test win in Australia in 15 years. After smashing a 63 in the first innings, he went on to score an undefeated 106 off 186 balls to help his team win. In the game, he also had four outstanding receptions.
Playing style
AB de Villiers is a right-handed batter known for his ability to hit shots 360 degrees around the field. The secret to his success is his savage force and impeccable timing.
He is extremely creative, so much so that he can sweep quick bowlers at will. He is also a part-time medium-pace bowler, with an ODI high of 2/15.
He also keeps wickets for his team and is more than simply effective behind the stumps. He is a dynamo on the field and one of the top fielders in the game today.
Fastest records
The cricket fraternity and fans are well aware that De Villiers is one of the most successful and finest batsman in the world today. In cricket, he has set some incredible records.
If you follow his career attentively, you will see that he owns the record for the fastest one-day international 50 by just playing 16 balls. Aside from that, he owns the 31-ball century record, which is the quickest century in one-day international cricket.
This senior South African cricketer’s 64-ball 150-run innings is a rare record for any batter in history, since it is the quickest by any South African in Tests and the fastest 50-run innings by a South African in T 20.
Beat the duck
Do you know that AB De Villiers is the only cricketer who has played about 7 innings in test cricket before making his first-ever duck?
Cricket is a risky game, and this seasoned cricketer’s remarkable record is nothing short of a miracle. In Centurion in 2008, he held this record against Bangladesh. That is why fans like De Villiers and consider him to be a complete cricketer.
Received a medal from Nelson Mandela
One of the most fascinating aspects of AB de Villiers’ life is that he earned the coveted national medal award from former South African President Nelson Mandela for an outstanding science project while still in his youth.
This demonstrates that AB De Villiers is not only a superb athlete, but he also has a solid intellectual background. And it is this quality that distinguishes and distinguishes AB de Villiers.
Jersey number 17
As an AB De Villiers fan, you should understand why he wears 17 number shirts. AB De Villiers was born on February 17, 1984, and he considers the number 17 to be his lucky number.
Because he wears the 17th number jersey in cricket. He believes that wearing 17 jerseys is one of the reasons for his athletic success.
Captain AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers is not just a terrific cricketer, but also a fantastic leader. He was well-liked by South African cricket fans as a brilliant skipper.
He has led the South African international cricket team in both ODIs and T20s. He was also the vice-captain of the South African cricket team’s Test squad at the start of the 2011 and 2012 seasons. No doubt he is a smart cricketer and a great leader too.
He has been an amazing skipper and leading his team with superb batting skill using his vast experience. He is now the icon for every young cricketer in South Africa and other countries.