'Still better than half of IPL players,' cricket legend showers praise on De Villiers

Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn on Sunday heaped praise on AB de Villiers after the latter’s sensational match winning performance in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), calling him 'still better than half of IPL players.'

De Villiers produced a breathtaking innings in the WCL final against Pakistan Champions, scoring an unbeaten 120 off just 60 deliveries. 

His knock, featuring 12 fours and seven sixes, completely dismantled the Pakistani bowling attack and powered South Africa Champions to the title.

The 41-year-old’s explosive display sparked widespread admiration on social media. Steyn, taking to X formerly Twitter, went a step further, claiming that De Villiers remains superior to many active players in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Unpopular/Popular opinion. AB is still better than half the internationals at IPL. Maybe even more,” Steyn wrote.

De Villiers dominated the tournament with remarkable consistency, amassing 429 runs in just six innings, including three centuries, one of which came in the final against Pakistan. 

His performances played a pivotal role in South Africa Champions lifting the WCL trophy.

AB de Villiers, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest modern batters, retired from international cricket in 2018 and later announced his decision to leave the IPL after the 2021 season.

For the unversed, De Villiers’s unbeaten century muscled South Africa Champions to thrash Pakistan Champions by nine wickets and win the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 title here at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Chasing a daunting 196-run target, the Proteas comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just one wicket and 19 balls to spare, courtesy of de Villiers’ batting masterclass.

The right-handed batter smashed 12 fours and seven sixes on his way to an unbeaten 120 off 60 deliveries, which was his third century in the WCL 2025.

He was involved in a one-sided 72-run opening partnership with Hashim Amla, who fell victim to Saeed Ajmal on the final delivery of the batting powerplay, scoring 18 off 14 deliveries.

Duminy, who struggled in the early phase of his innings, eventually got going and ended up scoring an unbeaten 50 off 28 deliveries, laced with four fours and two sixes and thus lent ample support to de Villiers during their match-winning 125-run partnership.

For Pakistan Champions, only Ajmal could pick up a wicket, while the rest went wicketless.