RCB vs DC: AB de Villiers becomes 2nd overseas batsman to score 5,000 runs in IPL

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman AB de Villiers on Tuesday became only the 2nd overseas batsman to score 5,000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The South African star achieved the feat in his side’s 6th match of the IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

David Warner is the only other overseas player in the elite club consisting of 4 Indian stars.

Virat Kohli tops the list of most run’s in IPL with 6,041 runs. He is followed by Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina (5,472), Delhi Capitals opener Shikhar Dhawan (5,456), Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma (5,431) and Sunrisers Hyderbad skipper Warner (5,390) and. Chris Gayle is the next batsman in line to join the 5000-run club.

Moreover, AB de Villiers is the third fastest (161 innings) batsman to complete 5,000 runs in the IPL. David Warner (135 innings) is the fastest while Virat Kohli (157) the second fastest.

The former Proteas captain has been in sublime form in the 14th edition of IPL despite playing professional cricket after a gap of 5 months. He scored match-winning 48 versus defending champions Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener before slamming breathtaking 76 not out off just 34 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in his side’s third match. He brought up an unbeaten fifty (75*) in the ongoing match against Delhi Capitals as well.

De Villiers averages over 40 in his 175-match IPL career. The swashbuckling left-hander has 3 hundred and 40 fifties to his name.

AB de Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018. However, he has opened up on his desire to make a comeback for the South African national team on several occasions.

‘If there’s no space for me, then so be it.

“I haven’t had a chat with Boucher yet. But we are lined up to have a chat somewhere during the IPL. But yes, we have been talking about it. He asked me last year if I would be interested. I said ‘absolutely’.

“Come at the end of the IPL, we have a look at where we are with regards to my form, my fitness. Also, the situation with regards to his team as he has to get the best 15, look at the guys who have been performing well in the recent past.

“If there is no space for me, then so be it. If I can slot in there, it would be fantastic if all these things fall into place.

“I am waiting to hear from Boucher towards the end of the IPL. Then we will plan accordingly,” de Villiers had said after his team’s 38-run over KKR in the league stage.