Presenting the unique IPL records of AB de Villiers
Former South African captain AB de Villiers is one of the finest batters to have graced the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru for over a decade and piled up a plethora of runs. Arguably the most flamboyant batter in the history of the game, de Villiers retired with 5,162 runs from 184 IPL matches. Let's decode his unique IPL records.
Most POTM awards in IPL
Having played his last IPL game in 2021, de Villiers still owns the record for the most Player-of-the-Match awards in IPL history. He received the honors 25 times as Chris Gayle (22) follows the suit. 23 of his IPL POTM awards came in 156 outings for RCB. He received the honor a couple of times while playing for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Most runs as non-opener in single season
De Villiers's best season in terms of IPL runs came in 2016 as he racked up 687 runs at 52.84. His strike rate read a stunning 168.79. As per ESPNcricinfo, these are still the most runs by a non-opener in a single IPL season. Delhi Capitals' Rishabh Pant came close to de Villiers's tally in 2018 as he hammered 684 runs.
Highest individual score by a non-opener
De Villiers also owns the highest-individual score by a non-opener in IPL. The RCB ace made an unbeaten 59-ball 133 against Mumbai Indians in 2015. The second-highest score in this regard also belongs to ABD as he mustered a brilliant 52-ball 129* against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in 2016. Overall, de Villiers's 133* is the fourth-highest individual score in IPL history.
Two historic stands with Kohli
De Villiers and Virat Kohli own the top-two highest partnerships in IPL history (for any wicket). While they added 229 runs against MI in 2015, the duo stitched an unbeaten 215-run stand against Gujarat Lions in 2016. De Villiers was the aggressor in the partnership on both occasions as two of his three IPL tons came in these games.
