IPL 2018: How has AB de Villiers performed in IPL?
One of the finest fielders, a part-time wicket-keeper and the most brutal batsmen in the shortest format of the game, there is hardly anything that AB de Villiers cannot do on the cricket field. Known as the 'Superman' of cricket, ABD has always set the IPL alight with his stunning performances. Here we take a look at his glorious IPL career.
Quiz: Test your knowledge about 'Superman' of cricket
ABD's IPL career in numbers
AB de Villiers has played 129 IPL matches and has scored 3,473 runs at an average of 38.16 and an amazing strike rate of 148.16. The South African has scored three IPL hundreds and has 22 fifties to his name as well. He is on 10th spot in the all-time list of most runs scored in the IPL.
AB de Villiers has 3rd and 4th highest individual scores
ABD's 59 ball 133* against the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 52 balls 129* against the Gujarat Lions in 2016 are the third and fourth highest individual scores in the history of IPL.
ABD began his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils
AB de Villiers started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils. His first season, in 2008, was not the ideal start he had hoped for. He played just 6 games and scored 95 runs. However, 2009 was a different story. The right-handed batsman finished the campaign with 465 runs but couldn't carry the same form into 2010 and ended the season with just 111 runs.
ABD and RCB: A perfect love story
After 3 mixed seasons, AB de Villiers joined Royal Challengers Bangalore. This is actually when his IPL career kicked off. For the next 6 years (2011-2016), the RCB batsman scored at least 300 runs each year. In 2017, he played just 9 games and scored 216 runs. Despite being a part of the star-studded RCB, ABD has never managed to win the IPL title.
ABD light the IPL ablaze in the 2016 campaign
2016 was ABD's best campaign with 687 runs at an average of 52.84 and a strike rate of 168.79. He scored 6 fifties and a hundred in his 16 games. His mind-blowing performances, along with Kohli's, took RCB to the IPL final, but they eventually lost to SRH. The Bengaluru outfit will be hoping for similar performance from their star man this season.
