What’s the story?
Mumbai Indians star Jos Buttler admitted that his all-time favorite batsman is South Africa’s AB de Villiers. The 26-year-old England wicketkeeper also revealed the name of his signature scoop shot during a Twitter Q&A with fans of Mumbai Indians via the team's official Twitter handle.
Responding to fans queries to the hashtag “#AskJos”, he revealed quite a few interesting bits of information. He said: “My all-time favorite batsman is AB de Villiers. I love the way he plays his cricket and I think probably he is the leading batsman that there’s ever been. When he gets going, he is amazing to watch. His ability to hit the ball anywhere and so he is my favorite batsman of all-time.”
“If I had to name my signature scoop shot, the inside joke with my brother is it is called a scoopmaru”, he added. Maru is a cat which became an internet celebrity in Japan after it broke the Guinness World Record for most Youtube video views of an individual animal.
The Context
The 26-year-old Englishman has been in great form for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2017. In the first five matches, he managed to get past 20 on three occasions but failed to convert all three times. In the last game against Kings XI Punjab, he came to the party as he smashed his career-best T20 score of 77 as his side cruised home to their fifth successive win in the tournament.
The Details
AB de Villiers averages in excess of 50 in Tests and ODIs despite playing over 100 matches in both formats. A feat that is incredible and is unmatched in the history of the game. He has scored nearly 20,000 runs in international cricket and his ability to hit boundaries to all corners of the ground has endeared him to plenty of supporters, including Jos Buttler.
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Author’s Take
AB de Villiers is one of the finest and most-loved batsmen of his generation. A mark of just how universally loved he is is evident from the deafening cheers that pop up any time he comes in to bat anywhere in the world. While his quality is undeniable, Buttler’s claim that AB is the “leading batsman that there's ever been” is certainly open for debate and one that will invite plenty of divisive opinions.
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