20 Facts About AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers is a celebrated cricketers across the world. He has fans all over for the brand of cricket he plays. He has many nick names like ABD, Superman, Mr.360 etc cherishing his unbelievable range of shots. He are some of the fun facts on this Proteas cricketer.
20. MEDAL FROM MANDELA
AB de Villiers was also good at academics. He received a national medal from the late Nelson Mandela for a science project. The Proteas batting star wanted to study medicine and become a doctor like his father.
19. SCHOOL MATES TURNS NATIONAL HEROES
AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis were the closest of friends from childhood as they studied in the same school. They played together for school’s first cricket team when they were 15 years of age. Later they went on to lead their country in World Cup.
18. NOT JUST CRICKET
AB de Villiers was proficient in many sports. AB is the holder of 6 South African school swimming records. He also won a few 100 meter races at school.
AB played in the U16 hockey team of his school Affies – He was then shortlisted for his country’s junior National Hockey team. He was also a part of his school’s rugby team, the first fifteen of the Affies – he was then selected for the Blue Bulls U-18 rugby side where he locked horns with some Springboks.
AB also played U19 Badminton at national level – He was also a part of South Africa Junior Davis Cup Tennis Team. He also plays golf quite proficiently
17. WHY CRICKET?
Being good in multi sports, AB could have made a career in any one of them; however, cricket chose him when he was a mere eight.
The 1992 World Cup was on, and young AB saw Jonty Rhodes‘ brilliance on TV – making waves with his famous catches and run outs in the tournament. It made an impression on him, and he started dreaming of following in Jonty’s footsteps. This particular time in his life changed his direction towards cricket.
16. JERSEY NUMBER 17
AB de Villiers donned the Jersey number 17. He was born on February 17, 1984 and 17 also was his favorite number.
15.NICK NAMES
Other than the popular nick names ABD, Superman, Mr.360 – de Villiers is called ABBAS in close circles and his family members
14. MOST INNINGS WITH OUT A DUCK
The South African played a world record 78 innings in test cricket before making his first duck, against Bangladesh in Centurion in 2008.
13. FASTEST ODI FIFTY AND CENTURY
AB de Villiers recorded the fastest ODI fifty (16 balls) and century (31 balls) of all time! He achieved this feat playing against West Indies at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg in January 2015.
12. FASTEST SOUTH AFRICAN TEST CENTURY
ABD holds the record for the fastest century hit by a South African in Tests off 75 balls against India at Centurion in 2010-11.
11. WICKET KEEPING RECORD
AB de Villiers scored an unbeaten 103 off 117 balls in a Test against Pakistan in February 2013. In the same match, he effected 11 dismissals behind the stumps. In the process, he became the first wicket keeper batsman to score a century and claim 10 or more dismissals in a Test.
10. WORLD CUP RECORD
AB de Villiers is South Africa’s highest run getter in World Cup history with 1207 runs at an average of 63.52 in 23 matches.
He made his World Cup debut in the 2007 edition in West Indies. He scored 372 runs in 10 innings despite registering 4 ducks. He slammed 47 fours and 9 sixes in the tournament. with 1 century and 2 half centuries.
In 2011 edition – de Villiers smashed 353 runs in just 5 innings at an average of 88.25. He smashed 31 fours and 7 sixes on his way to 2 centuries and 1 half century. He had a strike rate of 108.28 in the sub continent edition of World Cup.
He entered the 2015 edition as Proteas skipper – he scored 482 runs in 7 innings with a best of 162* against West Indies. He averaged 96.40 with the bat. His tournament strike rate of 144.31 was powered by 43 fours and 21 sixes helping him score 1 century and 3 half centuries.
9. ICC ODI PLAYER OF THE YEAR
AB de Villiers was adjudged the ICC ODI cricketer of the year not once but thrice – in 2010, 2014 and 2015. He was also a No.1 ranked ODI and Test batsman for a good period of time.
8. FAVORITE CRICKET GROUND
Super Sport Park, Centurion is AB de Villiers’ favorite cricket ground. He scored 1980 International runs on this ground in 46 inninngs at an average of 48.29. He recorded 5 centuries and 9 50s at this ground.
7. WHAT IS AB?
AB stands for Abraham Benjamin. It was AB de Villiers’ dad’s name as well. AB named his first son as Abraham Benjamin de Villiers as well. His second son is named John Richard de Villiers (JR de Villiers)
6. A MANCHESTER UNITED FAN
The Proteas cricketer is a self confessed Manchester United fan. He is also a great fan of Man Utd footballers Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
5. FAVORITE SPORTSPERSON
Swiss Tennis star Roger Federer is AB de Villiers’ favorite sports personality. He is also a fan of golfer Tiger Woods.
4. FAVORITE MOVIE
Ridley Scott directed mythological master piece ‘Gladiator’ starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix is AB de Villiers’ favorite movie of all time.
3. MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS
AB de Villiers also has a music skill set. He colloborated with Ampie Du Preez for his debut music album called “Maak Jou Drome Waar” (Make Your Dreams Come True) in 2010. Recently in 2020 he collaborated with Karen Zoid and Ndlovu Youth Choir (Got Talent fame) and produced a song called The Flame featuring his team mates from South Africa and RCB.
2. A TAJ MAHAL PROPOSAL
AB de Villiers loves India and it was only fitting he proposed his then girl friend Danielle at the Taj Mahal during the 2012 edition of IPL. The couple got married in 2013 and are parents to two sons.
1. IPL JOURNEY
AB de Villiers made his IPL debut in 2008 for Delhi Daredevils where he played till 2010. He then got sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 with whom he has continued playing till date. He scored a century each for Delhi and Bangalore franchises.
My dream team will feature Marcus Trescothick and Anil Kumble
