IPL 2021: AB de Villiers continues to steal our breath away with creativity and innovation – VVS Laxman

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman has heaped praise on Royal Challengers Bangalore talisman batsman AB de Villiers. Laxman stated that AB continues to steal our breath away with his creativity and innovation. AB, 37, is still batting at the top of his game in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

RCB was in a spot of bother in their opening match against defending champions Mumbai Indians while chasing the target of 160 runs. However, AB scored a blistering knock of 48 runs from 27 balls to get his team close to the target. RCB was able to win that game by two wickets.

Subsequently, the Proteas star was at his absolute best against Kolkata Knight Riders as he smashed 76 runs from 34 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. AB was able to hit the ground running and helped RCB post an above-par score of 204 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

AB can turn the match on its head with his blistering batting and has done the same in two out of three matches played by RCB this season. The talisman has scored 125 runs in three matches at an average of 62.50 and a blistering strike rate of 189.39.

VVS Laxman wrote in his column for Times of India, “AB, of course, is just phenomenal. You think you have seen it all, and yet, year after year, he takes your breath away with his innovativeness and creativity. He doesn’t play international cricket any longer, so it’s a little short of amazing that he continues to retain his passion, zest, fitness, and appetite.”

Laxman added that he wouldn’t recommend a youngster to copy AB’s outrageous strokeplay. On the other hand, Laxman also heaped praise on Delhi Capitals opener Shikhar Dhawan, who is currently the Orange Cap holder as he has scored 231 runs in four matches at an average of 57.75. Laxman added that AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan are the leading lights of this season so far.

“I wouldn’t recommend that young batsmen attempt to emulate his [AB de Villiers’s] stroke-play because that’s impossible, but there is so much to learn from his work ethic and his commitment. In that regard, AB and Shikhar have established themselves as the leading lights of the competition so far,” VVS Laxman concluded.