5 reasons why AB de Villiers is the Lionel Messi of cricket
AB de Villiers had a great year as he scored 1193 ODI runs at an astounding average of 79.53 this year. Even though he struggled in the Test series against India, he has an impressive average of 50.75 in Tests this year to go with it.But with AB de Villiers, it is not just about the runs he scores. It is also about the way he scores them. Elegant, stylish and a jaw-dropping maverick, one runs out of adjectives while trying to describe him. He has made unorthodoxy his norm and scoring runs his passion.His outrageous skill has often elicited comparisons with Lionel Messi, a footballer who is perhaps in the form of his life and the faourite to win the Ballon dOr for his performances this year.Let us make a close comparison between these two giants of the game and look at 5 reasons why AB de Villiers can be called the Lionel Messi of cricket.
#1 Both are simply magical
On the best of occasions, AB de Villiers can boast of a degree of finesse that very few mortals are capable of achieving. Some of his skills are just other-worldly which can make even the most devout cricket fan shaking his head in disbelief.
Just like Messi, de Villiers has been termed as a superhuman or an alien because of his incredible powers. Remember how Messi embarrassed Jerome Boateng and chipped Manuel Neuer for what seemed to be an impossible goal in the Champions League last year? He left the entire Bayern defence looking foolish in a matter of minutes.
And now, just think of the outrageous reverse sweeps and dinks over the keeper’s head that AB de Villiers can come up with even when Dale Steyn, one of the best fast bowlers in the world, is steaming in. You just have to sit back, admire and quietly admit that it is pure magic.