Former South African superstar AB de Villiers has given a brutally honest look at IPL batting comparisons and has been open about his frustration with how statistics are used, especially when comparing middle-order players to openers.
“It annoys the living daylights out of me”
In an interview on Mbangwa Media, De Villiers’ YouTube channel did not hold back when comparing the top IPL scores:“So I hate it when they compare my runs with other players in the IPL because then I go like, but I haven’t faced as many balls as the openers. It annoys the living daylights out of me.”“This kid has scored 8,000 runs, he’s the best of them all. I’m like, no, I’m better than him, he’s faced more balls. Don’t do that.” he added.
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“It’s the easiest thing in the world”
The one-time RCB legend focused on the advantage openers have in T20 cricket: “And then on top of that, everybody’s an opener and they’re batting with just two guys with these restrictions and it’s like, it’s the easiest thing in the world, especially in India. It’s ridiculous, man. You can’t play cricket like that.”
“Don’t compare my stats to openers”
De Villiers questioned the fairness of comparing players in different batting positions: “But then don’t compare my stats, knowing that, with everybody. They’re all openers, they’re all major top scorers, the Orange Caps they’ve got. You know why that makes me angry?” said de VilliersHe even suggested tweaking the limitation in the powerhouse:“At least, well, with the new ball, when the ball is pinging and flying, at least get your fielding limitations removed in the first six overs, T20 in India short boundaries, great wickets. The advantage is the new ball already. It’s already flying. It’s too easy now. Don’t just have two fielders outside the ring.”
“Unfair to the pitchers”
The Proteas legend highlighted how the bowlers are often at a disadvantage: “But I feel it’s a bit unfair to the bowlers in the IPL, the first six overs. Forget the stats and me being me. It’s just hard to watch.”De Villiers pointed out that even ill-timed shots can bring boundaries: “Very often they play bad shots and they get rewarded for it, your chipped ball that you didn’t hit in the area you wanted to … and you still get a four.”Citing Travis Head, he said: “It’s like Travis Head now, it’s flying everywhere. Inside edge four, outside edge four. Good shot, six, great, but it’s one of the three.”“What’s that? 33% strike and you’re on 15 from four balls.” he added.
“I Feel Embarrassed”
De Villiers revealed his own mindset on scoring lucky boundaries: “Honestly, when I hit an inside edge for four I feel embarrassed, I even sometimes apologize to the bowlers, I swear because I feel it’s not right, now these openers are just running all over the place. New flying balls. It bothers me.”“Why do you think some captains step up late in their careers to open the bat in T20 cricket?”
“Give Me A Chance Ahead”
De Villiers ended on a sharp note about his own batting position: “At the end of my career I was demoted to five. I’m like, what have you got? because I’m a good finisher? No, give me a chance with the new ball up front as well.”
AB de Villiers in IPL
AB de Villiers has enjoyed a remarkable IPL career, scoring 5162 runs in 184 matches at an impressive average of 39.70 and a blistering strike rate of 151.68, including 3 centuries and 40 half-centuries, with a top score of 133*. What makes his numbers even more extraordinary is the context, unlike most top scorers, de Villiers primarily batted in the middle order, often at Nos. 3 to 5, yet he still managed to dominate the attack with 251 sixes and over 400 fours.
