Team India was demolished in the final match of the ODI series against South Africa – first by their batsmen and then by their bowlers. The loss was quite brutal because it’s not often that India loses at home in this awful manner. Even when the team was blanked by Australia in Australia in 2012, it came back to stamp its authority in India with a thumping whitewash of the Aussies. In the final game South Africa made a mockery of Indian bowling by scoring 438 runs which was beyond the realms of shameful because Dhoni and Co. had no clue as to what hit them.
A sport is made popular by the people who play it and seldom do we come across such sportspersons who transcend boundaries of team loyalty and are cheered for their superb stroke play everywhere in the world. AB De Villiers is one such player and probably only next to Sachin Tendulkar to earn such respect from the fans; playing in Wanderers or Wankhede.
Such was the brilliance of AB De Villiers in the final match that even if someone was watching the game accidentally, between switching channels for the first time, would have fallen in love with the game and become an ABD fan for life.
The rockstar welcome which AB De Villiers receives every time he comes on to bat is only a testament to the fact that cricket has not seen a player who is adored by the crowds so much since Sachin Tendulkar. The chants of Sachin-Sachin made way for the chants of ABD-ABD at the former’s home ground and that too in his presence. Can a Dhoni or a Kohli replicate this feat at any ground in India, let alone Wankhede? I guess not!
When I asked one of my friends, who made it to the ground in sweltering heat, about the disappointing performance of Indian team, his response was this, “Who cares? AB De Villiers made waiting in the queue worthwhile”.
Admiration for foreign players is not unheard of in cricket. Brian Lara and Shane Warne were recognized by Indian fans whenever they visited the country and so were Dravid and Laxman when India toured England. But it is really difficult to imagine another player apart from Tendulkar who was adored by fans like AB is. This maybe in part because of IPL, but largely it is due to the persona of AB De Villiers. When asked about the response of crowds when he comes on to the pitch, AB said, "It is very humbling to hear the crowd cheer for me like that. I can only be thankful and blessed with the opportunities I have had in my life. I will never forget it. It is a great privilege and an honor to be playing in front of big crowds in India. I always tell my teammates to enjoy it. It's not always about the result but really enjoying ourselves and representing our country in the best manner."
He is very likable and humble and these qualities still earn respect from fans all over.
AB De Villiers will play his 100th test match in Bangalore, his home ground in IPL. Needless to say, people will pay to watch the South African over Dhoni and Kohli this time around! The Indian team shouldn’t be surprised if it feels like an away game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
