In a spectacular display of skill, former Proteas star AB de Villiers showcased his timeless talent, leading the South Africa Champions to an emphatic 88-run victory over the India Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at The County Ground in Northampton on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old invoked memories of his cricketing heyday, delivering a performance that left fans buzzing.
Walking onto the pitch, De Villiers was an instant crowd favourite, and he certainly did not disappoint. He aggressively launched into the Indian bowlers, accumulating an impressive 63 not out off just 30 balls at a blistering strike rate of 210. His innings included three fours and a staggering four sixes, each shot echoing the flair and finesse that has been synonymous with his career.
Revelling in his return to the crease, De Villiers employed his signature 360-degree sweep shots, combined with classy cover drives and powerful pull shots.
His ability to control the game and manipulate the field underscored why he is revered as one of cricket’s most explosive batsmen.
The crowd couldn’t help but reminisce about the days when he consistently dazzled on international stages, proving that age is merely a number in the world of cricket.
With De Villiers anchoring the innings, South Africa set a formidable target of 209 runs, which proved to be more than enough to challenge their Indian counterparts. Under the DLS method, the South Africa Champions clinched an outright win.
De Villiers also proved that he has lost none of the athleticism that made him one of the world’s most outstanding fielders.
The 41-yea-old displayed his dazzling fielding skills when he swiftly sprinted towards the ball, before executing a perfectly timed slide whilst taking a one-handed grab.
In an instant, he deftly tossed the ball back to his teammate, Sarel Erwee, before his body could breach the boundary line which sent Yusuf Pathan on his way.
