In the best form of my life, says De Villiers
It has been almost a rebirth for AB de Villiers and the South African star believes it too, likening his comeback to making a debut. One of the batting mainstay and key member of the leadership core, De Villiers scored 65 in the first innings of the Newlands Test, followed by a masterful 80 in Centurion to help set up a series victory for South Africa.
Few months back though, no one saw this coming. With De Villiers taking a sabbatical from Test cricket, South Africa were investing in Temba Bavuma. But Bavuma may have to wait for his turn after De Villiers announced his sudden return before the summer. And he has On his form
played his part too.
“I feel like I am in the best form of my life right now. Once again I have touched that. But I am never guaranteed results, never guaranteed five hundreds in a row. I could get five ducks in a row but I am happy where I am now,” said De Villiers on the sidelines of an event here on Thursday. “And I am playing well and I am doing my preparation well and I am meeting the ball well. I feel I am at the best phase of my life right now,” he said.
A major contention was whether De Villiers would be able to cope with the rigours of three formats but the 33-yearold is feeling good about his body.
“It feels like my debut back in 2004 when I started as an opening batsman then a keeper at No7 and back to opening, and up On India seamers
and down. I am feeling in a good space and the energy is good and my body is feeling right at the moment. I do have niggles but that is part of Test cricket,” he said.
De Villiers’ batting rivalry and off-the-field friendship with Virat Kohli was one of the talking points of the series. And while Kohli did score one of his best centuries in Centurion, De Villiers and some of the other batsmen were far more consistent than India.
De Villiers said he did congratulate Kohli after his century and is also planning to sit with him after the Test series to discuss the IPL auctions. But right now, they are focused on getting scores settled after the 3-0 humiliation inflicted by India in 2015.
“India have really impressed me and surprised us with their bowling. They have showed a lot more skill and definitely there is lot more pace than we expected. So we know we are going to have to be watchful in that last Test. They will come out fighting and wanting to finish well in the Test series and wanting to take that confidence into the ODIs. But obviously, we would love to beat them 3-0,” he said.
JOHANNESBURG: I am playing well and I am doing my preparation well and I am meeting the ball well. JOHANNESBURG: They have showed a lot more skill and definitely there is lot more pace than we expected.