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Key Points

AB de Villiers turned back the clock with a blistering 63 off just 30 balls in the World Championship of Legends. His explosive knock, featuring four sixes, powered South Africa Champions to 208/6. This was his first significant innings since retiring from the IPL in 2021. The Proteas legend showed why he's still one of the most feared batters in T20 cricket.

Key Points: AB de Villiers Fires 63 in WCL Comeback for South Africa Champions

  • De Villiers blasts 63 off 30 balls in WCL return
  • Smuts and Amla support with quick cameos
  • SA Champions post 208/6 vs India Champions
  • Yusuf Pathan takes 2 wickets in losing effort
2 min read

WCL: De Villiers turns back clock, stamps authority with a quickfire 63

AB de Villiers smashes a 30-ball 63 in WCL, proving his class remains intact after four years away from competitive cricket.

"The 'Mr 360' of the old days stamped his authority with a 30-ball 63, scoring at a strike rate of 210.00. – Match Report"

Northampton, July 23

South African batting legend AB de Villiers lit up the World Championship of Legends (WCL) tournament with a quickfire half-century for South Africa Champions against India Champions at Northampton on Tuesday.

After falling for a single-digit score against West Indies Champions in his first match in four years, the 'Mr 360' of the old days stamped his authority with a 30-ball 63, consisting of three fours and four sixes and scoring at a strike rate of 210.00.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMayJM-N0Oz/?igsh=MXFkejhjaWd3NHhk

He along with JJ Smuts (30 in 17 balls, with three fours and a six), Hashim Amla (22 in 19 balls, with four boundaries) and Jacques Rudolph (24 in 20 balls, with two fours) helped SA Champions reach 208/6 in 20 overs, with Yusuf Pathan and Abhimanyu Mithun being the top bowlers with two wickets.

De Villiers last played competitive cricket in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), scoring 313 runs in 14 matches with two fifties and a best score of 76*.

In 340 T20s, he has made 9,424 runs at an average of 37.24 at a strike rate of over 150, with four tons and 69 fifties. His best score is 133*.

De Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018, scoring 19,864 runs in 415 international appearances at an average of 48.33, with 47 centuries and 108 fifties, and his best score being 278*. He is Proteas' second-highest run-getter of all time.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
What a player! But honestly, I wish our Indian bowlers had contained him better. 208 is a huge total to chase. Mithun and Pathan did decently but others need to step up. Still, amazing to see legends playing like this!
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David E
Watching AB bat is like poetry in motion. That Instagram reel shows his classic shots - the scoop over fine leg and those inside-out cover drives. Cricket truly misses players like him in international matches.
S
Shreya B
While AB was brilliant, I think the article focuses too much on SA batting. Our Indian Champions team has legends too - would have liked more balance in reporting. But yes, what a knock from the legend! 👏
V
Vikram M
Yaar, this man is just different level! 4 years out of cricket and still batting like he never left. That's why he's my all-time favorite foreign player. Hope he mentors young Indian batsmen someday.
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Priya S
The WCL is such a great concept! Getting to see retired legends play competitive cricket again is pure nostalgia. AB's innings was special, but I'm equally excited to see our Indian veterans perform. Cricket never gets old!

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