IPL 8: Grounded AB de Villiers Determined to Help Royal Challengers Bangalore Fly High
AB De Villiers slams a hundred. © BCCI Royal Challengers Bangalore's AB de Villiers plundered 139 not out off 59 balls, reaching his century off only 47 balls. His knock was laced with 19 fours and four sixes that helped Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians by 39 runs.
AB de Villiers was his usual belligerent self when he smashed Mumbai Indians bowlers all over the park to notch up his second hundred in the Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. De Villiers plundered 139 not out off 59 balls, reaching his century off only 47 balls. His knock was laced with 19 fours and four sixes that helped Royal Challengers Bangalore mount 235 for one - the highest total in a T20 match at Mumbai's iconic stadium. RCB beat MI by 39 runs.
De Villiers said he is enjoying his current form and trying to keep his feet on the ground.
"I am at the top of the game at the moment but I know this game knocks you down very quickly. I try and keep my feet on the ground and keep working at my game. I know you are only as good as your last game. I am already thinking of my next performance and I have moved on from what happened today," de Villiers told iplt20.com.
The South African, who joined skipper Virat Kohli (89* off 50 balls) after Chris Gayle's early dismissal, was involved in the highest partnership for any wicket in the history of Twenty20 format. The duo put on an unbeaten 215 off 101 balls breaking Adam Gilchrist (106) and Shaun Marsh (79) stand of 206 runs for Kings XI Punjab against RCB in IPL 2011.
The 31-year-old de Villiers said he always wanted to play at the top of the order and RCB gives him that opportunity.
"From the day I started playing T20 cricket I always wanted to bat at the top three and I am very thankful for the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore has given me the chance to bat at three now," he said.
De Villiers holds the record for the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in one-day internationals and is regarded as one of the best limited overs batsmen in the world today. He also has 14 half-centuries in the IPL.
Other statistical highlights of the match:
- De Villiers has managed 4031 runs at an average of 31,74, including two hundreds in 175 matches to become the 26th batsman to complete 4000 runs or more in Twenty20.
- Eleven batsmen, including AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard, have completed a century of sixes in the IPL.
- Kohli remains the only batsman to be involved in two partnerships of 200-plus for any wicket in Twenty20 - his first being 204 (unbroken) with Chris Gayle for the second wicket for Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils at Delhi on May 17, 2012. All three partnerships of 200-plus in the IPL have been recorded for the second wicket.
- Kohli has managed 3049 runs at an average of 32.78 in 118 matches and became the fifth batsman to complete 3000 runs or more in the IPL, joining Suresh Raina (3594), Rohit Sharma (3279), Gautam Gambhir (3094) and Chris Gayle (3078).
(With inputs from Rajesh Kumar)