AB de Villiers

Abraham Benjamin "AB" de Villiers is a name that resonates with cricket fans worldwide, synonymous with innovation, destruction, and a touch of genius[1][2]. Regarded as one of the greatest and most versatile batsmen of his generation, his ability to play shots all around the wicket earned him the iconic nickname "Mr. 360°"[1][3]. This blog delves into the life and career of the South African superstar who redefined the art of modern batting. ### Early Life and Entry into Cricket Born on February 17, 1984, in Warmbad, South Africa, Abraham Benjamin de Villiers showed immense sporting talent from a young age[4][5]. While legends of him excelling at multiple sports like rugby, golf, and tennis are widespread, de Villiers himself has clarified in his autobiography, *AB: The Autobiography*, that cricket was always his primary focus and that some of the tales about his all-round abilities were exaggerated[4]. He made his international debut for South Africa in a Test match against England in December 2004 and quickly established himself as a key member of the national side across all formats[4][5]. ### An Illustrious International Career Over a 15-year international career, AB de Villiers became a formidable force in world cricket[4]. He is one of the very few batsmen to have a batting average of over 50 in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket[4][6]. * **Test Cricket:** In 114 Test matches, de Villiers scored 8,765 runs, including 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries[4][7]. His highest score of 278 not out against Pakistan remains the second-highest individual score by a South African in Test history[4][6]. He also holds the record for the most Test innings (78) from debut without registering a duck[4]. Initially a wicket-keeper-batsman, he later focused solely on his batting but occasionally took up the gloves when needed[4]. One of his most memorable performances was a gritty 33 off 220 balls to help save a Test match against Australia, showcasing his ability to adapt his game to the situation[6]. * **One Day Internationals (ODIs):** De Villiers' ODI career was nothing short of spectacular. He holds the records for the fastest fifty (16 balls), fastest century (31 balls), and fastest 150 (64 balls) in ODI history[4][5][6]. His breathtaking knock of 149 off just 44 balls against the West Indies in 2015 is considered one of the greatest ODI innings of all time[8]. He scored over 9,500 ODI runs with 25 centuries[9]. * **Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is):** In the shortest format, de Villiers was a trailblazer, known for his innovative and audacious shot-making. He scored 1,672 runs in 78 T20Is for South Africa with a strike rate of over 135[10]. He captained South Africa in all three formats of the game but stepped down from the Test captaincy in 2016 due to injury[4].

### The "Mr. 360°" Phenomenon What set AB de Villiers apart was his unparalleled ability to hit the ball to any part of the ground, against any bowler[1]. His range of unorthodox shots, especially behind the wicket, left opponents and spectators in awe[4]. This 360-degree style of play made him incredibly difficult to set fields for and allowed him to dominate bowling attacks across the globe. ### Retirement and Legacy Citing fatigue, AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in May 2018[4][11]. He continued to play in T20 leagues, most notably the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he formed a legendary partnership with Virat Kohli[4][12]. In November 2021, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket[4]. AB de Villiers left an indelible mark on the game. His achievements include: * **ICC ODI Player of the Year:** 2010, 2014, 2015[4][6]. * **ICC Hall of Fame:** Inducted in October 2024[4]. * Scored over 20,000 international runs for South Africa[10][11]. * Named in the ICC Men's ODI and T20I Teams of the Decade (2011-2020)[4]. ### Personal Life Beyond the cricket field, AB de Villiers is a man of many talents. He is an accomplished singer and guitarist, and in 2010, he released a bilingual pop album called *Maak Jou Drome Waar* with his friend, South African singer Ampie du Preez[4][13]. He is a devout Christian and has often spoken about the importance of his faith[4]. In 2012, he proposed to his girlfriend, Danielle Swart, at the Taj Mahal, and they married in 2013[4][3]. The couple has two sons and a daughter[4]. He is also the most-followed South African on Instagram[4][14]. Citations: [1] AB de Villiers Profile - Cricket Player South Africa | Stats, Records ... https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/ab-de-villiers-44936 [2] AB de Villiers Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/370/ab-de-villiers [3] AB de Villiers - Biography - IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7460461/bio/ [4] AB de Villiers - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AB_de_Villiers [5] Ab de Villiers Biography - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ab-de-villiers-biography-sabari-saran-s [6] Ab de Villiers Profile, Career Stats, Ranking, Records, ... https://www.howzat.com/cricket/ab-de-villiers.html [7] AB de Villiers Profile: Age, Stats, Records, ICC Ranking ... https://www.mykhel.com/cricket/players/ab-de-villiers-p3241/ [8] List of international cricket centuries by AB de Villiers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_cricket_centuries_by_AB_de_Villiers [9] AB de Villiers Records, Test match, ODI, T20, IPL ... https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/ab-de-villiers-44936/tests-odi-t20-records [10] AB de Villiers https://www.icc-cricket.com/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famer-ab-de-villiers [11] AB de Villiers Profile - Cricket Player, South Africa https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/699-ab-de-villiers-playerprofile [12] AB de Villiers Profile https://www.iplt20.com/players/ab-de-villiers/233 [13] AB de Villiers: Cricket Player, Biography, Awards, Career, Birthday https://sportsmatik.com/hall-of-fame/view/ab-de-villiers-1187 [14] AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17) · Instagram photos and videos https://www.instagram.com/abdevilliers17/?hl=en [15] AB de Villiers Personal Life, Career Achievements, Controversies ... https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/ab-de-villiers-personal-life-career-achievements-controversies-facts-net-worth/146384448 [16] AB De Villiers Height, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More https://starsunfolded.com/ab-de-villiers/ [17] South Africa's AB de Villiers has mastered his craft in ... https://www.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/comments/1asw1sw/south_africas_ab_de_villiers_has_mastered_his/ [18] A B Devilliers Biography | PDF | Cricket - Scribd https://www.scribd.com/document/413877622/A-B-Devilliers-Biography [19] AB de Villiers Biography in Hindi | Mr 360 | South African Player https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhajVEbZ1rE [20] AB de Villiers batting bowling stats, averages and cricket ... https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/ab-de-villiers-44936/bowling-batting-stats