South Africa vs India 2018: Reliving AB de Villiers' heroics in all 5 Pink ODIs thus far

When Abraham Benjamin de Villiers bats, he makes the world sit up and applaud the brilliance he produces each time. The world totally is in awe of the South African batsman every time he takes field as he can virtually do everything possible on a cricket field.

AB de Villiers is arguably one of the best batsman of the modern era. His ability to change his game (style of play) according to the situation is simply brilliant. He can change the course of a game in the span of a few deliveries, he can also put his head down and play the sheet anchor’s role.

South Africa have really missed their talisman batsman in the first three ODIs in the ongoing series against India. However, they will be bolstered by his return in the 4th ODI which will take place at the Bullring in Johannesburg (Wanderers). Johannesburg is also de Villiers’ happy hunting ground. In 10 innings, he’s played at the New Wanderers Stadium, he has scored 706 runs at an average of 100.86 and a strike-rate of 129.30. He has 3 hundreds and 3 fifties at this venue.

Also, it will be a ‘Pink ODI’ celebrating the Pink Day. This is a game where the South African team will be dressed in Pink rather than their Green jerseys. The Pink Day is celebrated in order to raise funds for cancer patients across the country.

Not only does de Villiers’ enjoy playing at the Wanderers, he has a special connection with the Pink ODIs as well. He’s done exceedingly well almost every time in the Pink ODIs. Thus, let’s take a look back at his knocks in all five ODIs in the Pink Jersey thus far.

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#5 128 vs Pakistan – March 2013

After being whitewashed in the Test series, Pakistan bounced back to win the 2-match T20I series 1-0. The 5-match series was level at 1-1 when the teams moved to Johannesburg for the third ODI. AB de Villiers had started the ODI series well with a fluent 65 but failed in the second game.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first and put pressure on the South African batsmen right from the start. The first 10 overs yielded only 26 runs. And in the 14th over, de Villiers walked in to bat at 42/2. As soon as he walked in he changed the tempo of the innings. He started rotating the strike with ease and Hashim Amla who struggled a bit in the early part of his innings fed off de Villiers’ confidence. The duo put on 238 runs for the third wicket in about 33 overs.

AB de Villiers was the chief aggressor of the innings as he stroked a superb 128 in just 108 deliveries (which included 12 fours and 3 sixes). He was his usual self as he drove the ball well through the covers and down the ground, used the crease to great effect shuffling around and scooping the ball over fine leg, slashing over point and third-man and slog-sweeping over mid-wicket. His innings of 128 along with Amla’s 122 helped the Proteas reach 343 and eventually win the game.

#4 77 vs India – December 2013

The 2013 ODI series between South Africa and India will be fondly remembered for Quinton de Kock’s 3 hundreds. But AB de Villiers was also superb in that series.

India had won every bilateral ODI series in 2013 before they travelled to South Africa for a shortened tour (3 ODIs and 2 Tests). In the first ODI, they had gone in a little underprepared as they landed in South Africa only 3 days before the first One-Day.

After being put into bat by India, South Africa got off to a superb start as de Kock and Amla put on a 152-run opening stand. But a couple of quick wickets pegged the hosts back. AB de Villiers walked into bat at No. 4. He started off a little cautiously taking ones and twos. But once he was set, he started attacking the Indian spinners.

And then in the final overs of the innings, he started displaying his wide array of shots as he struck an excellent 47-ball 77. His innings comprised of 6 fours and 4 sixes as he took advantage of India’s poor death bowling. South Africa scored a mammoth 358 which proved to be too much for India.

#3 149 vs West Indies – January 2015

This is an innings which West Indies will not forget in a long time. AB de Villiers was in the most destructive mood and decided to rewrite the record books.

The only thing which went right for the West Indies was the toss. They won the toss and elected to bowl first. South Africa were off to the best start possible as Rilee Rossouw (128) and Hashim Amla (153) stitched a 247-run opening partnership. The first wicket fell in the 39th over and in walked AB de Villiers at No. 3. With 11 overs to go, South Africa would’ve targeted 340-350. But what followed was absolute carnage.

Extra Cover: SK Flashback - When AB de Villiers smashed the fastest century of all-time

The first ball de Villiers faced was a slower on a fuller length which he drove down the ground past mid-off for four. He signalled that his intentions were clear. In the next over, he hit Andre Russell for 2 sixes and 2 fours. Couple of overs later, he brought up the fastest fifty (in 16 balls) as he got stuck into Jason Holder hitting him for a four and 3 sixes.

Most of them would’ve believed that by going after every ball, he will get out soon rather than later. But he went on. He kept hitting every bowler all around the Bullring as he recorded the fastest-ever ODI ton.

He the milestone in the 46th over with a slog-sweep over mid-wicket. But he continued in the same fashion even after his 100 as he continued to smash the clueless Windies attack all over the park. When he holed out at deep cover in the 50th over, AB de Villiers ended with a stunning 149 in a mere 49 balls. His knock included a joint-highest record of 16 sixes.

His innings propelled South Africa to 439. His record-shattering knock of 149 completely overshadowed two brilliant innings (of Amla and Rossouw).

#2 36 vs England – February 2016

After losing the Test series 2-1, South Africa were 2-0 down even in the 5-match ODI series. But they did really well to bounce back in Centurion in the third ODI. The fourth ODI (like the third one) was a must-win.

South Africa won the toss and opted to field first. Their bowlers responded very well to the captain’s call of bowling first as England were bowled out for 262 (Joe Root top-scored with 109). But South Africa were in trouble at 63/3 in the 15th over. Skipper AB de Villiers was at the crease.

With his team under pressure, de Villiers decided to counter-attack. He got his first boundary with pull filled with authority. In the next over (after his first boundary), he smacked Broad for a four and a six to transfer the pressure back on England. He looked set for a big one but a misjudged run cost de Villiers his wicket as he was run-out for 36.

South Africa though won the game by 1 wicket as a 38-ball 62 from Chris Morris helped the hosts cross the line.

#1 60 not out vs Sri Lanka – February 2017

After a taking a break from Test cricket after the series loss against England at home in 2016, de Villiers played the Tri-Nation series in West Indies but was out of action after that. He returned for the limited-overs leg when Sri Lanka toured the Rainbow Nation.

After an unbeaten 30 in the first game, de Villiers fell early in the second game (for just 3). In the third game at the Wanderers, South Africa who were 2-0 up put Sri Lanka into bat first. The bowlers were superb as they restricted Sri Lanka to 163.

Chasing a low total, AB de Villiers walked out to bat with the score 58/2 and produced a clinical knock which helped the Proteas chase down 164 and seal the series 3-0. He hit 60 in 61 deliveries which included 5 fours. This knock pushed his average above 100 at the Wanderers and his love affair with the ground and the Pink dress continued.