MUMBAI: Former South African captain
Ali Bacher feels that his countryman
AB de Villiers, who has been in sizzling form in the ongoing edition of the
IPL, is in the same bracket as Proteas greats like
Graeme Pollock and
Barry Richards.
"I see that 'AB' continues to display his genius at the IPL. I used to say that Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards are the two best batsmen that South Africa has produced. I put 'AB' in that league. He is the most innovative batsman that I have seen," Bacher told TOI on Wednesday from Johannesburg.
IPL 2020 POINTS TABLEThe 78-year-old had led a rampaging South African team which included Pollock and Richards and went on to beat Australia 4-0 in 1969-70, before they were barred from international cricket due to South Africa's apartheid policies.
De Villers has scored 285 runs in nine games@57.00, with four half-centuries under his belt, in IPL-2020 so far. After his unbeaten 55 off 22 balls against the
Rajasthan Royals,
Royal Challengers Bangalore
skipper
Virat Kohli called him "the most impactful player of the IPL." After his 33-ball 73 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Team India coach
Ravi Shastri urged de Villers to come out of retirement.
The former Proteas skipper played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is for the national side before his retirement in 2018.
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