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Villiers AB for the Royal Challengers Bangalore
Monday night, the former Proteas captain Villiers AB he was in his prime for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL.
Now 36, De Villiers crushed an undefeated 73 * (33) that included six sixes when RCB served 194/2 against the Kolkata Knight Riders to establish a comfortable victory.
It was another startling reminder of how good De Villiers is and how much it hurts to not have him available for the 2019 World Cup in England last year.
De Villiers has already served three half a century at this year’s IPL and, although he has obtained a good 228 runs in competition at an average of 57.00, the most impressive return is its staggering hit rate of 185.36.
No one else on this year’s best players list comes close.
De Villiers has now struck 13 six in the 2020 tournament, although several players including Nicholas Pooran (16), Sanju Samson (16), Rahul Tewatia (15), Ishan Kishan (14) and Rohit Sharma (14) have hit more.
Another former Proteas ODI captain in Faf du Plessis also continues to have a strong tournament and is third on the list of highest career scorers with 307 from seven entries with an average of 61.40. Du Plessis’s hit rate also improves to his standards and stands at 147.59.
Du Plessis, like De Villiers, has marked three half centuries so far in this year’s tournament.
In the bowling department, South African sprinter Kagiso rabada continues to lead the way and is easily the fittest bowler in the competition thus far.
The 25-year-old comfortably sits at the top of the tallest wearer list with 17 out of seven games with an average of 12.52 and an economy rate of only 7.69.
To put that dominance in perspective, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah are the next highest wicket takers at IPL 2020 with eleven each.
Rabada has been a force throughout the competition, with a combination of raw rhythm and precise skill and execution that sets him apart from the rest of the group.
It is, of course, excellent news for the Proteas to see their male attacking bowler perform like this at the highest level.
Here, we take a quick look at how all the South Africans in the IPL have fared so far.
Players of SA and IPL 2020
Faf du Plessis – 307 races at 61.40 and 147.59 (strike rate)
Lungi Ngidi – 4 lots at 23.50 and 11.75 (economic)
Kagiso rabada – 17 windows @ 12.52 and 7.69
Quinton de Kock – 191 races @ 27.28 and 143.60
David miller – 0 runs @ 0 and 0
Villiers AB – 228 races @ 57.00 and 185.36
Dale steyn – 1 gate @ 90 and 11.73
Chris Morris – 5 windows at 7.20 and 4.50
