Some players just hit the world differently; they wow the fans like no other. They came, took the Cricket universe by storm, and departed swiftly. No off-field fuss, no controversial statement, no run-ins with opposition, who even adore and respect them immensely. Just pure cricketing sorcery.
Therefore, the world has still not been able to find the perfect – if anything like it – replacement for these 3 players. Not just in their own country, but nobody has, and perhaps will ever, match the kind of cricketing folklore, success and enigma these players left behind.
Here are 3 cricketers whose replacements haven’t been found yet, and are unlikely to ever:
‘Alien’ de Villiers
There is little to argue in the fact that AB de Villiers is the most versatile batsman to have played the game with such longevity and consistency.
There have been few batters who have bossed all three forms of the game; from spending hours at the crease in Test cricket, fighting in tough conditions against the best of the bowling attacks – to smashing the ball to all parts of the ground and registering fifties, centuries and 150s in record number of balls in white-ball cricket – AB de Villiers was as unique a batsman as they come.
He could play the classy shots with elegance and also do the funk, turn his bat and body into any which way to play innovative shots and find gaps only he could see. The first 360-degree batsman the world ever saw. Nobody like him, ever.
Dewald Brevis has been nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ for his batting stance and style resembling close to the former South African skipper, but the youngster has a long, long way to go to deserve the honour of being compared with De Villiers’ batting and achievements and his cult.
‘Magician’ Dhoni
They don’t make any more like him, do they? Arguably the greatest ever cricket captain, and one of the best leaders of men, MS Dhoni won it almost all of what was laid in front of him. Three ICC limited-overs title, number 1 Test rankings; 4 IPL and 2 Champions League trophies with CSK.
The greatest finisher ever the white-ball cricket has seen; lightning quick behind the stumps. Dhoni bosses the time and hogged the limelight on most of his playing days, and he still continues to do so. Despite only playing for a couple of months in the IPL, having retired from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni’s return to the pitch, and the TV screens, is celebrated by his legions of fans.
There is no one currently who brings in the traits that Dhoni did: captaincy, chase-master and finisher, and wicket-keeper – Dhoni played the role of three different players in one.
‘Slinga’ Malinga
Even as the limited-overs cricket became more and more batting friendly, Lasith Malinga remained a potent threat with the ball and the best there was when it comes to bowling in the death overs. His slingy action made him unique anyway, and then him acing bowling in the slog overs forced him force the opposition to plan out for innings before his return in the death overs.
More often than not, Malinga’s four overs in T20 cricket remained a bank for his Sri Lanka and Mumbai Indians captain. From becoming the first bowler tao take 4 wickets in 4 balls in international cricket in 2007, to defending 9 runs in the last over of IPL 2019, Malinga enjoyed a dream run as a fast bowler for a dozen years.
And although Sri Lanka have found a bowler with a similar action to Malinga – Matheesha Pathirana – there can only be one Slinga Malinga.
