5 Greatest Test Innings by AB de Villiers

217* against India at Ahmedabad (Apr 2008)

Not even a die-hard fan would have imagined that South Africa can inflict an innings defeat to India on their home turf inside 3 days.

After India won the toss and elected to bat first, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel ripped apart a line-up consisting of Sehwag, Laxman, Dravid and Ganguly. Such was the cluelessness of the Indian batsmen in front of the three seamers that by lunch, South Africa were 1/0. India was bowled out for 76 in just 20 overs with only MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan reaching double figures

In response, South Africa started steadily but lost their way in the middle and was hobbling at 117-4 when AB de Villiers arrived. South Africa didn't lose another wicket as ABD and Kallis took them to stumps at 223/4.

On Day 2, de Villiers started off like a man on a mission and quickly outscored Kallis to reach his hundred and pressed on the accelerator from there on. With Kallis departing after a well made 115, he carted the bowlers all around the park and by stumps on day 2, he was batting on 217 and South Africa reaching 494/7, having all but batted the hosts out of the game.

India, needing a minimum of 418 runs to make South Africa bat again, folded for 328 and suffered a crushing defeat by an innings an 90 runs.