AB de Villiers has been one of the best players in this generation and he was one of those players who had plenty of shots in his armor. Speaking to Star Sports during the World Championship of Legends 2026, the former South Africa captain assembled what he believes is the ultimate ODI batter by assigning eight different batting skills to some of the game’s finest exponents. For the straight drive, de Villiers went with Matthew Hayden. “He hit the ball so hard it made a huge noise coming off his bat,” he recalled.
Ricky Ponting earned the nod for the pull shot, a stroke the Australian mastered both off the front and back foot. Jacques Kallis was chosen for the cut shot and praised for his balance and precision. The Indian players also received strong representation. Virat Kohli was selected for the cover drive. “Everyone says that, but I’m not just saying it because everyone says it. He’s masterful when it comes to that,” de Villiers explained.
AB de Villiers Picks Rohit Sharma & MS Dhoni among Best ODI Batters for Different Skills
Rohit Sharma took the flick, described by AB as “pure timing, pure talent, and just beautiful to watch.” MS Dhoni was the clear choice for six-hitting. “He’s quite brutal, especially in his heyday. MS could hit a six at will, and the one that stands out was that 2011 ODI final,” AB said.
In a more unexpected pick, Pakistan’s Younis Khan was named for the sweep shot. De Villiers admitted it might surprise some people, but he valued Younis’s range of variations and willingness to take on spinners.
Finally, for running between the wickets, AB paired himself with Kohli, acknowledging their shared sharpness and awareness in the middle. Interestingly, Sachin Tendulkar did not feature in the list. While the omission has drawn attention, de Villiers’ choices reflect personal preference rather than an attempt to rank greatness.
