Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has stunned everyone with his latest statement on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batting legend AB de Villiers, saying that the South African piled up “personal records” in the IPL while batting at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where, Gambhir says, “anybody could have scored runs”.
This comment from the former KKR captain hasn’t gone down well with the fans who are trolling him left, right, and centre.
“AB de Villiers only had personal records in the IPL. Anybody could have scored runs in Chinnaswamy stadium,” Gautam Gambhir told Star Sports during an interview.
Talking about the comparisons between AB de Villiers and Suresh Raina, Gambhir compared the difference in the nature of the pitch and ground dimensions of Bangalore and Chennai.
At Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL:
Gambhir – 11 inn (all as opener), 30.2 average, 126.4 SR
AB de Villiers – 61 inn (34 at number 4 or below), 43.56 average, 161.2 SR
Funny how Gambhir himself couldnt score as many runs in Chinnaswamy from an easier batting posn 😂 https://t.co/95umtIYafr
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) March 4, 2023
Suresh Raina vs AB de Villiers? Gautam Gambhir makes scathing remarks
He also pointed out that CSK batsman Suresh Raina had 4 IPL titles while playing the majority of his IPL matches in Chennai, and he perhaps felt Raina had a bigger contribution and achievement in the IPL than AB de Villiers, who couldn’t win a single IPL trophy.
Here, check out Gambhir’s video speaking on AB vs Raina:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpW9bNXs1W7/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=50654883-d29e-42ec-a610-9edb8b6965af
AB de Villiers, who retired after the IPL 2021, is the most loved overseas cricketer in India, not just among the RCB fans but throughout the country fans adore the former South African captain who is hailed as Mr 360 degree as he lit up the Indian stadiums during the IPL with his extraordinary batting.
The right-hander is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the IPL and arguably the greatest all-format batter the game has seen.
AB de Villiers was, in particular, severe at the Chinnaswamy stadium: ABD whacked 1960 runs in 61 matches at Chinnaswamy at an average of 43 and a stunning strike-rate of 161. Fans reminded Gambhir of his own mediocre numbers at the Chinnaswamy: 302 runs at an average of 30 and an unremarkable strike rate of 126.
Overall, AB de Villiers played a total of 170 innings in the IPL, wherein he amassed 5162 runs at an average of 39 and strike-rate of 151, cracking 3 hundreds and 40 half-centuries – dreamy numbers for any middle-order batsman and someone who was tasked with finishing the innings.
AB de Villiers will be part of the RCB coaching staff in the role of a mentor in IPL 2023, while Gautam Gambhir is the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants.
