'AB de Villiers better than half internationals...': Steyn's bold IPL claim gets corrected; ‘Half? Make it 90 per cent'
De Villiers, now a retired international batter, turned back the clock on Saturday at Edgbaston in Birmingham, scoring a 47-ball century to help South Africa beat Pakistan Champions by nine wickets in the final of the second WCL season. It was his third century in just four innings in the tournament.
Following his Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament-winning performance, Steyn took to social media to assert that de Villiers is better than half the international cricketers currently playing in the IPL — or possibly more. However, fans were quick to correct him, insisting that de Villiers is better than 90 per cent of today's IPL batters.
'Unpopular/Popular opinion. Ab is still better than half the internationals at IPL. Maybe even more,' Steyn wrote on X.
Chasing 196 at Edgbaston, De Villiers was at his vintage best, smashing an unbeaten 120 off just 60 balls. His knock, studded with 10 boundaries and eight sixes, featured a crucial 72-run opening stand with Hashim Amla, followed by an unbroken 125-run partnership with JP Duminy, who scored a fluent 51*.
Earlier, Pakistan Champions—who reached the final after India refused to play them in the WCL semifinals due to ongoing geopolitical tensions—opted to bat first after winning the toss.
Opener Sharjeel Khan gave Pakistan a flying start with a sublime 76 off 44 balls, putting on a 76-run stand with Shoaib Malik. However, the momentum dipped in the middle overs as Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell picked up two wickets each.
De Villiers finished WCL 2025 with 429 runs, including three centuries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Lockie Ferguson 'committed' to playing for New Zealand despite turning down central contract: 'Playing World Cups is...'
India and England produced some riveting and thrilling action across 45 days in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The five-match series ended at 2-2, and the skills that were on display once again proved why there is no sport quite like Test cricket. Several renowned cricketers from India, England and Australia view Test cricket to be the pinnacle; however, one cannot deny the reality of the current times. The growing T20 leagues around the world threaten to put international cricket at risk, with several cricketers continuing to opt out of central contracts to make themselves available for these leagues. Lockie Ferguson still prioritises playing for New Zealand(AFP) Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are some of the biggest New Zealand stars who have let go of central contracts in recent times to make themselves available for franchise leagues all around the world. This growing trend raises questions about the sanctity of international cricket. Ferguson, who will soon be seen in The Hundred for the Trent Rockets, said he might have opted out of the central contracts list, but playing for New Zealand continues to remain his top priority as he seeks to find a perfect balance between the two. India, Australia, and England are three of the richest cricket boards, and they can offer their players good money, keeping them away from lucrative offers from various franchises all around the world. However, other boards do not have this luxury, and hence, stars from teams South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies are skipping international cricket and becoming globe-trotters, playing different leagues, which is becoming the norm. "I just think they're finding a balance between the two, to be honest. I think some boards sort of handle it differently. But from my point of view, I'm still very committed to playing for New Zealand. I still love playing for my country. And it's just about finding the balance, however that might be. After this, I go home and have a bit of a stint back with New Zealand. We've got three series back there," Ferguson said while replying to a Hindustan Times query during a select media roundtable. "So, hopefully take the park. As I said, it's nice to play in your home conditions. It doesn't happen as much as it used to, which is the good thing about playing a lot of franchise cricket. But yeah, I think from all points of view, playing World Cups is still very much the pinnacle. And although we enjoy playing franchise, I think getting back and playing for your nation is something special," he added. IPL owners' investment in the Hundred There's been some renewed buzz for the Hundred this year following Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners' investment in some of the teams. The GMR Group, which co-owns the Delhi Capitals team, have a stake in the Southern Brave team. The RPSG Group, which owns the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), will have a 70 percent stake in the Manchester Originals, and the Sun TV Network Limited (owners of SunRisers Hyderabad) will have a 100 percent stake in the Northern Superchargers. Reliance Group's 49 per cent stake in the Oval Invincibles is also only a matter of time. Hence, Ferguson sees exciting times ahead for the tournament. "I think it's great for the game. Obviously, first and foremost brings a lot of investment into the game, particularly in England. But, you know, clearly the IPL has run a very successful tournament for a long time," said Ferguson. "And I think the ownership groups adding that sort of knowledge and sort of making the 100 a bit more of a franchise league in that sense is exciting for the game," added the 34-year-old tearaway quick. Lastly, Ferguson also spoke highly about the Trent Rockets' squad this time around, saying the side has the arsenal to win the competition. "We've got a good squad. There's no doubt about it. A good group of lads, they've been connecting very well early on and obviously a great ground to play at. So, yeah, we'll look forward to the first game on Friday and take it from there. But certainly, a good group and I'm looking forward to getting on the park with them," said the speedster. Watch The Hundred 2025 (Men's): London Spirit vs. Oval Invincibles on 5 August 2025 from 11 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD.
India.com
2 minutes ago
- India.com
Team India's Probable Squad for Asia Cup 2025: Jasprit Bumrah Out, Shreyas Iyer Returns, Rishabh Pant Doubtful
photoDetails english 2941973 As the Asia Cup 2025 approaches, India's probable squad reveals key developments. Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out due to workload management, while Shreyas Iyer returns after a strong IPL. Rishabh Pant's participation remains doubtful due to injury, and Suryakumar Yadav's fitness could force Hardik Pandya to lead. Young pacer Harshit Rana may debut, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy heading the spin attack. India's batting looks solid with KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson. Fans await the official squad announcement, with the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash set for September 14. Updated:Aug 06, 2025, 09:04 AM IST 1. Jasprit Bumrah to Miss Asia Cup 2025 Due to Workload Management 1 / 11 India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament, a major blow as team management prioritizes his fitness for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 2. Shreyas Iyer Likely to Make Strong Comeback After Stellar IPL Season 2 / 11 Shreyas Iyer is set to return to the T20 squad following an impressive IPL 2025 campaign, making him a reliable option for India's middle-order stability. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 3. Rishabh Pant's Participation Remains Doubtful After Toe Injury 3 / 11 Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured toe vs England and faces a six-week recovery, putting his Asia Cup availability in serious doubt. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 4. Suryakumar Yadav's Fitness Crucial – Hardik Pandya May Lead If He Misses Out 4 / 11 With Suryakumar Yadav still recovering from sports hernia surgery, vice-captain Hardik Pandya could captain the squad if needed. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 5. Harshit Rana in Line for Debut as Mohammed Shami Recovery Continues 5 / 11 With Mohammed Shami still sidelined, young pacer Harshit Rana may receive a maiden national call-up for the Asia Cup. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 6. India's All-Rounder Department Looks Strong With Axar Patel Leading the Pack 6 / 11 Axar Patel is expected to be vice-captain and lead the all-rounders, with Washington Sundar providing crucial support in UAE conditions. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 7. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy To Spearhead Spin Attack 7 / 11 India is set to go spin-heavy, with Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy being the preferred duo in Dubai's slow pitches. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 8. Batting Depth Boosted with Samson, KL Rahul, and Tilak Varma 8 / 11 India's top and middle-order is stacked, with Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, and Tilak Varma all vying for starting spots in the XI. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 9. India vs Pakistan Could Happen Thrice – Group Stage, Super 4s, Final 9 / 11 India has been drawn in Group A with Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, meaning fans might witness three epic IND vs PAK clashes. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 10. Final Squad Announcement Expected Soon as Preparations Intensify 10 / 11 With just weeks to go, fans are watching closely for the official Team India squad announcement, expected before the pre-tournament camp. (Photo Credit - Twitter) 11 / 11
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nostalgia for SRH fans: David Warner and Kane Williamson walk out together at Lord's in special Hundred moment
Kane Williamson and David Warner at Lord's (Video grab) The 2025 edition of The Hundred kicked off at Lord's on Tuesday with a wave of nostalgia, especially for fans of the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In a moment that melted hearts, two modern-day greats and former SRH stalwarts David Warner and Kane Williamson were seen walking out to bat together for London Spirit, evoking memories of their time as batting partners in Hyderabad's orange. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The official social media handle of Lord's Cricket Ground shared the heartwarming video, capturing the duo emerging through the iconic Lord's long room and stepping onto the field. The caption read: 'A video @SunRisers fans will enjoy!' WATCH: Between them, Warner and Williamson have represented SRH for over a decade — Warner for seven seasons and Williamson for eight. Their chemistry and calm aggression were a cornerstone of SRH's success in the IPL, including their 2016 title win. Poll How would you rate the performance of London Spirit in their opening match? Very Poor Average Good However, the fairytale reunion didn't translate into success for London Spirit on the night. Defending champions Oval Invincibles outclassed the Spirit, bundling them out for a paltry 80 in 94 balls, with Rashid Khan (3/11) and Sam Curran (3/18) leading the charge. The Invincibles chased down the target in just 69 balls, winning by six wickets. Post-match, Rashid reflected on his performance and preparations: 'It was nice to get off to a winning start... There was spin on offer. I mixed things up and it worked well.' Bowled Over by Miya Magic: Mohammed Siraj shines brightest | IND vs ENG 5th Test Adding to the spectacle, play was briefly halted by an unexpected intruder — a fox that darted across the ground, drawing laughter and cheers from the Lord's crowd. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
