AB de Villiers, often regarded as one of the greatest players in IPL history, spent 11 seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes the South African legend may have chosen the wrong franchise. According to Manjrekar, RCB failed to fully capitalize on de Villiers’ extraordinary talent in T20 cricket.
Manjrekar’s comments came during a discussion on Star Sports, where he was asked to compare de Villiers with India’s dynamic T20 batter, Suryakumar Yadav. While acknowledging the brilliance of both players, Manjrekar suggested that Suryakumar may have surpassed de Villiers in terms of T20 impact. However, he also stated that de Villiers remained the superior player in Tests and ODIs due to his consistency and match-winning abilities across formats.
“AB was phenomenal,” Manjrekar said. “His greatness lies in the fact that he averaged 50 in Tests and ODIs. But if we strictly talk about T20 cricket, and especially the IPL, I feel AB wasn’t utilized to his full potential. He was often batting lower than he should have, and unfortunately, he played for the wrong franchise. Had he been part of another team, we might have seen even more of his brilliance.”
Manjrekar’s remarks drew attention to RCB’s approach during de Villiers’ tenure, hinting that their strategies may have restricted his effectiveness in the shortest format of the game.
De Villiers’ stellar legacy at RCB
Despite Manjrekar’s critique, de Villiers’ contributions to RCB are undeniable. After Virat Kohli, he is the franchise’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 4522 runs for the team between 2011 and 2021. His tally surpasses even the legendary Chris Gayle by over 1000 runs. De Villiers’ IPL career, which spanned 184 matches, saw him score 5162 runs in total, with only 640 runs coming during his brief stint with Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) before joining RCB.
During his time with RCB, de Villiers produced numerous unforgettable performances, including two centuries. His unbeaten 129 against Gujarat Lions in 2016 remains one of the most iconic innings in IPL history.
While Manjrekar’s opinion on RCB’s role in de Villiers’ IPL career is up for debate, the South African’s legacy as one of the most innovative and impactful players in cricket remains undisputed. His versatility, explosive batting, and ability to deliver in high-pressure situations have firmly cemented his place as one of the greatest players in IPL history.
