AB de Villiers has been making headlines in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 with a series of vintage performances. Most recently, he delivered a stunning unbeaten 63 off 30 balls to lead the South Africa Champions to a commanding 88-run victory over India Champions at Northampton, also pulling off a sensational relay catch in the outfield that went viral across social media[1][2][3][4].
In the match, De Villiers came to bat in the ninth over and wasted no time, smashing three fours and four sixes at a strike rate above 200, showcasing the same flair that earned him the nickname “Mr. 360°”. Supported by brisk contributions from JJ Smuts (30 off 17), Hashim Amla (22), and Jacques Rudolph (24), South Africa posted 208/6. The Indian side faltered in their run chase and finished at 111/9 (18.2 overs), well short via the DLS method[2][4].
De Villiers’ fielding grabbed headlines as he sprinted on the boundary, slid perilously close to the rope, and executed a deft relay catch to dismiss Yusuf Pathan, displaying remarkable agility at age 41. This effort added to his Player of the Match performance and was widely shared and praised by fans and commentators[3][4].
Shortly after, De Villiers produced another electrifying innings, scoring an unbeaten 116 off only 51 balls against England Champions, including 15 fours and 7 sixes, while chasing a target of 188 in just 12.2 overs[6][7]. His rapid-fire hundred—one of the fastest in the tournament—reinforced his reputation as a match-winner, even years after his retirement from professional international cricket.
De Villiers has also been in the news for picking his top three batters of all time. During the ongoing WCL 2025, he named Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, and Jacques Kallis as his all-time favorites across formats[5].
References
- [1] AB De Villiers sixes Alien Mode Catch by ABD in World … – YouTube
- [2] WCL 2025: AB de Villiers turns back the clock as South Africa crush India by 88 runs – Times of India
- [3] WCL 2025: AB de Villiers’ stunning relay catch against India goes viral – Times of India
- [4] WCL 2025: AB de Villiers rolls back the years in South Africa Champions’ win over India Champions – RevSportz
- [5] AB de Villiers picks the top three batters of all time amid WCL 2025 – Sportskeeda
- [6] Still Mr. 360° AB de Villiers lit up the WCL with an unbeaten 116 off … – Instagram
- [7] WCL 2025 : AB De Villiers 116 runs off 51 balls against … – YouTube