Abraham Benjamin De Villiers is his full name. He has been a cricketing legend as AB De Villiers. The South African cricketer was born in Pretoria on 17th February 1984. His position on the field is termed as wicket-keeper-batsman. But he has transformed himself primarily as a right-hand batsman.

De Villers is a batsman who is described as one of the most innovative and destructive batsmen in modern era. The 34-year old batsman is also called 360-degree batsman. He can hit any ball anywhere at any time against any bowler. His innovation in stroke making has taken him to such a height that every time whenever he goes to bat, he unfolds himself on the crease. De Villiers father, who was a doctor, had played in rugby union regularly. It was transpired into his son and ABD also had played in rugby as well as golf also. That might be the reason De Villers in his continuous practice of launching innovative shots, executes the most behind the stumps. De Villers has batted in almost all the positions of the batting order. However he has settled finally as a middle-order batsman. He was named as the ICC ODI Player of the Year thrice during his 15-year international career and was selected as one of the five Wisden cricketers of the decade at the end of 2019. De Villiers, though had said good bye to all format of cricket in 2018, expressed desire to return to international cricket in 2020, mainly to don South Africa shirts in 2020 Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled to be held October-November 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

De Villiers, who had struck 58 and 61 for Northern Province, in both innings respectively, in his first-class debut against Western Province in 2003, has gathered 10689 runs in 114 matches at an average of 49.71 including his 25 centuries and 60 fifties with his highest score of unbeaten 278. In the List ‘A’ game also, De Villiers has maintained amazing average of 53.47, scoring 11123 runs including 29 centuries and 63 fifties. His highest score in the List ‘A’ is 176.

AB De Villiers made his debut in One Day International cricket against England in 2005. But in his maiden ODI he scored only 20 off 38 deliveries. However, he has participated in 228 ODIs and scored 9577 runs at an average of 53.50 including 25 centuries and 53 fifties and highest score of 176.

AB De Villers made his debut in Test when he was 20 years old and had played only 16 first-class matches. His first Test at Port Elizabeth against England in 2004 was not memorable however as the batsman scored only 28 and 14 in both the innings, respectively. As its reflection De Villers was dropped down the batting order and also given wicket-keeping task. Later from the final Test of the series De Villiers was brought up in the top order. The batsman who also has been an outstanding fielder, has played in 114 Tests and scored 8765 runs at an average of 50.66 including 22 centuries and 46 fifties and highest score of 278. De Villiers has also been the second youngest South African batsman after Graeme Pollack to have scored 1000 runs in Test. He also holds the records for most Test innings (78) without registering a duck.

Since his joining the Indian Premier League, AB De Villiers has been one of the most successful batsmen. He started playing for Delhi Daredevils and moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the third edition of the League. He has played in 169 matches in total so far and scored 4849 runs at an average of 40.40 including his highest score of 133. He has scored 3 centuries and 38 fifties. He also has been retained by RCB for the 2021 IPL.

Apart from having scored 9111 runs in 325 Twenty20 matches in the domestic circuit, AB De Villiers has played in 78 T20Is and scored 1672 runs including his highest score of unbeaten 79. He scored the fastest fifty and the fastest century in ODI off 16 deliveries and 31 deliveries, respectively and finally finished at 149 off 44 deliveries in 59 minutes against West Indies. Even in the 2015 World Cup, De Villiers became one of the top run-scorers with 482 runs at an average of 96and strike rate of 144.