Image: Sanjay Manjrekar criticized RCB for not using AB de Villiers' potential in the IPL / © Wallpaperaccess
IPL has been a platform where some of the world’s best cricketers showcase their talent, and AB de Villiers is often considered one of its finest performers. However, Sanjay Manjrekar recently criticized Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for not fully utilizing de Villiers’ potential. During a discussion on Star Sports, Manjrekar suggested that AB de Villiers could have achieved greater success had he played for a different franchise, claiming that RCB failed to unlock his full capabilities in the IPL.
I’ll say yes, because of the match-winning impact. AB was incredible. But AB’s greatness was that he averaged 50 in Tests, even in one day (ODIs). So, he’s an amazing player. But only if you look at T20 cricket; I’ve seen both of them a lot. AB, in IPL, he was not used properly. His real ability. So, in IPL we didn’t get that much juice out of him. Definitely (batted higher). And, sorry to say, but played for the wrong franchise. If he had played elsewhere, we could have seen the greatness of AB de Villiers.
Manjrekar highlighted de Villiers’ remarkable consistency in Tests and ODIs, where he averaged over 50, but stated that the South African’s IPL career did not reflect his true abilities.
Despite this critique, de Villiers remains one of the most impactful players in IPL history, amassing 4,491 runs for RCB from 2011 to 2021 with an impressive average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 158.63. He is second only to Virat Kohli as the franchise’s highest run-scorer. Even though Manjrekar’s comments were critical, they do not diminish the fact that de Villiers is widely regarded as a legend of the league.