SA vs IND 2018: I Am in the Best Form of My Life Right Now - AB de Villiers

As if the first two Tests were not enough, South Africa star AB de Villiers has sent out a warning to India by saying he was in the best form of his life at the moment. In a series where almost all the batsmen have struggled to get going, the former Proteas opener has looked like a class apart.

The right-handed batsman, who returned to the Test squad recently after a prolonged gap due to injuries and self-imposed sabbatical, has hit the ground running in Tests. De Villiers marked his arrival in red-ball cricket with a fluent fifty in the historic four-day Test against Zimbabwe and had continued the same form in the ongoing series against India too.

In the first Test at Newlands, de Villiers had come to the crease when the hosts were reeling at 12 for three, and had launched a stunning counter-attack; scoring 65 off just 84 balls to not only bail his team out of the trouble, but also helped them post a total which turned out to be more than enough for the visitors. In the second innings, he scored 35 when the other batsmen failed to contribute much, as South Africa were bowled out for just 130.

In the second innings of Centurion Test, the game was evenly poised after India reduced South Africa were reduced to 3 for two. However, de Villiers once again turned out to be the thorn in the flesh for India, scoring a brilliant 80 off 121 balls to guide the Proteas to a good total. In the end, it was more than enough, as India lost the game by 135 runs.

But while counterattacking has been the trademark of de Villiers’ batting in the ongoing series, the batting start thinks otherwise.

“Not at all,” de Villiers said when asked if he consciously tried to take the attack to the opposition.

“I watch the ball, and I just play. I have always said that I don’t feel there’s a big difference between the three formats. It is just a mindset applying yourself to the wicket and conditions, and that’s always been the way that I have played. So no definitely it’s not something that I force.”

He further spoke on his current form which would be welcomed by the Proteas and is enough to send chills down the spine of all oppositions.

“I feel like I am in the best form of my life right now,” de Villiers said. “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 at. And I am playing well, and I am doing my preparation well, and I am meeting the ball well. It’s just up to the day to take care of itself. I feel at the best phase of my life right now.”

The third Test of the series will get underway on January 24 in Johannesburg.

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