'AB Is Still Better Than...': Dale Steyn Takes Sly Dig At IPL After South Africa's WCL Win
Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has said that his compatriot AB de Villiers is still better than several international cricketers playing in the Indian Premier League, after the latter smacked a 60-ball 120 for the South Africa Champions against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends.
De Villiers, fighting a hamstring problem, played through visible discomfort to play a brilliant innings.
De Villiers' knock included 12 boundaries and seven sixes, bringing up his hundred in just 47 deliveries.
'Unpopular/Popular opinion. Ab is still better than half the internationals at IPL. Maybe even more," Steyn tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
Unpopular/Popular opinion.Ab is still better than half the internationals at IPL. Maybe even more.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 3, 2025
Supported by JP Duminy's unbeaten 50, South Africa chased down 196 with 19 deliveries to spare, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the World Championship of Legends.
This was de Villiers' third century of the tournament, earning him both player of the match and player of the tournament honours.
Notably, four years after his retirement, de Villiers remains the eighth-highest run-scorer in IPL, with ace India batter Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and KL Rahul the only active cricketers ahead of him.
De Villiers scored 5162 runs in 170 matches in IPL, at an average of 39.7 and a strike rate of 151.68, with three centuries to his name.
Even the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and his compatriot Faf du Plessis, who still actively play IPL, are behind de Villiers in the highest run-scorers' list.
Earlier in the World Championship of Legends, the former South Africa cricketer scored a 46-ball 123 against Australia, building a 187-run opening partnership with JJ Smuts.
It came right after a 51-ball unbeaten 116-run knock against England, where he and Hashim Amla joined hands to take South Africa past the 153-run target set by the hosts.
De Villiers has had a great time over the past two months, with his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, winning their maiden IPL title, besides South Africa winning the World Test Championship title.
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