AB de Villiers exposed brutally by Parthiv Patel; Gautam Gambhir's killer verdict echoes again

The legendary South African batter AB de Villers was known for his resolute brilliance at the crease, and he has always left bowlers scratching their heads with his phenomenal power hitting. He could demolish any bowling attack on his day, but what if the weakness hidden in his impenetrable armor is exposed?

Well, the Proteas legend’s possible weakness was revealed by none other than former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL with De Villers, in a candid moment during a podcast on YouTube.

Parthiv Patel shares insight into AB de Villiers’ rare weakness

Patel pointed out that when it comes to De Villiers, tactics and strategies on traditional wickets like Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium don’t seem to faze him.

The South African legend has countered every challenge thrown his way, showing no weakness to his opposition, but Parthiv added a twist.

On being asked about AB de Villiers' weakness on a pitch like Wankhede Stadium, Parthiv’s response was as cheeky. The former Indian cricketer quipped, “There’s no way,” while shutting down the idea of any conventional tactics working against the South African legend.

However, the former RCB star hinted that it’s not the pitch that might trouble AB de Villiers, but the big occasion could expose his vulnerability. Parthiv Patel: “There is no way. We can only tell him that it's a final match or a knockout match. Then something can happen.”

Watch Parthiv Patel's revelation about AB de Villiers here:

Question: "Is there any weakness in De Villiers to get him out cheaply?

Parthiv Patel: "Koi weakness nahi hai. Khali itna bol sakte hain ki final match hai ya knockout match hai tu kuch ho sakta hai." 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/hqtF7LlkQH

— ` (@cutxpull45) October 6, 2024

AB De Villiers' career highlights

Notably, AB de Villiers left an indelible mark on the game with his extraordinary versatility and innovation. He made his debut for South Africa in 2004 and amassed 8,765 runs in 114 Test matches at an average of 50.66, with 22 centuries to his name.

The legendary batter has also scored 9,577 runs in 228 matches at an average of 53.50, including 25 centuries to his name in ODI cricket. He was known for his ability to play shots all around the ground. The former destructive batter revolutionized limited-overs cricket with his aggressive yet elegant batting.

He holds the record for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODIs. In T20Is, he scored 1,672 runs in 78 matches. His fearless style, leadership, and unmatched consistency made him one of the all-time world beaters. Despite retiring in 2018, AB de Villiers’ legacy continues to inspire cricketers worldwide.

Parthiv Patel hails Mayank Yadav's performance on debut

Meanwhile, Parthiv Patel praised young fast bowler Mayank Yadav for displaying remarkable composure during his India debut against Bangladesh in the first T20I on Sunday, October 6, at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior.

Yadav finished with the figures of 1/21 in his four overs, including a maiden over, to play his part in India’s seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match T20I series at home. Mahmudullah was his maiden international wicket.

Parthiv Patel said on Sports18: “The highlight for me is Mayank Yadav. I think the way he made his debut—to play with a lot of expectations and reputation—is not easy. When you’re expecting 150-plus, if you want to bowl at 150 kmph, that is a hard task. Just to show no nerves, I think Mayank Yadav has been the highlight for me today.”