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AB de Villiers Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is a former South African cricket star. He is also known as “Mr. 360” for his extraordinary ability to hit shots from every corner of the field and the “Superman of Cricket” for his incredible fielding skills. AB represented South Africa in all three formats for over 14 years (2004-2018), leading […]
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is a former South African cricket star. He is also known as “Mr. 360” for his extraordinary ability to hit shots from every corner of the field and the “Superman of Cricket” for his incredible fielding skills.
AB represented South Africa in all three formats for over 14 years (2004-2018), leading the team as captain in Tests, ODIs, and T20 Internationals. He holds the records for the fastest ODI half-century (16 balls), century (31 balls), and 150 (64 balls).
AB de Villiers retired from international cricket in May 2018 but continues to shine in T20 leagues, especially with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL until 2021. Nowadays, AB works as a commentator and cricket analyst, sharing his expert opinions on games and players.
Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Type | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 114 | 191 | 18 | 8765 | 278* | 16077 | 54.51 | 22 | 46 | 1024 | 64 | 222 | 5 |
| ODIs | 228 | 218 | 39 | 9577 | 176 | 9473 | 101.09 | 25 | 53 | 840 | 204 | 176 | 5 |
| T20Is | 78 | 75 | 11 | 1672 | 79* | 1237 | 135.16 | 0 | 10 | 140 | 60 | 65 | 7 |
| First-class | 141 | 238 | 23 | 10689 | 278* | 19026 | 56.18 | 25 | 60 | 275 | 6 | ||
| List A | 263 | 252 | 44 | 11123 | 176 | 29 | 63 | 203 | 5 | ||||
| T20s | 325 | 306 | 63 | 9111 | 133* | 6066 | 150.19 | 4 | 67 | 730 | 420 | 215 | 18 |
Bowling
| Type | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 114 | 5 | 204 | 104 | 2 | 2/49 | 2/49 | 52.00 | 3.05 | 102.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 228 | 9 | 192 | 202 | 7 | 2/15 | 2/15 | 28.85 | 6.31 | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 78 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| First-class | 141 | 234 | 138 | 2 | 2/49 | 69.00 | 3.53 | 117.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| List A | 263 | 192 | 202 | 7 | 2/15 | 2/15 | 28.85 | 6.31 | 27.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| T20s | 325 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Early Life
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers was born on February 17, 1984, in Pretoria, Transvaal Province, South Africa. He grew up in a sports-loving Afrikaans family with strong Christian principles. His father, Dr. Abraham B. de Villiers, was a rugby union player, who inspired AB to pursue a career in sports. AB de Villiers attended the Afrikaansche Hoer Seussschool (AFES) in Pretoria, where he excelled in both his studies and sports.
AB actively participated in various sports, including tennis, rugby, golf, hockey, swimming, badminton, and athletics. AB began taking cricket seriously during his school days, starting out as a wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman. Later, he represented the Northern Titans at the youth level, demonstrating remarkable talent and patience.
AB’s excellent technique, sharp fielding, and versatility across various positions caught the attention of the selectors. His consistent performances in school and age-group cricket earned him recognition from the national selectors. His impressive performances at the junior level earned him a first-class debut for Northerns in 2003 at the age of 19. Within a few months, he demonstrated his potential and all-round cricketing skills, earning him a spot in the national Test team.
International Career
Test Debut: December 17, 2004 vs England
ODI Debut: February 2, 2005 vs England
T20I Debut: February 24, 2006 vs Australia
IPL Career
De Villiers got the opportunity to showcase his talent while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He quickly rose to prominence and showcased his talent throughout the tournament, earning him the nickname “Mr. 360” for his ability to play shots all around the field.
Innings And Achievements
- In 2005, he became the third fastest South African to reach 1,000 Test runs in just 20 innings.
- With 278 not out, he holds the second-highest individual score for South Africa.
- He made his mark in ODI cricket by becoming the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa with 9,427 runs in 213 innings in 223 matches.
- In 2010, he won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award.
- He showcased his batting prowess during the 2011 World Cup, scoring two centuries of 107* against the West Indies and 134 against the Netherlands in the same tournament.
- In 2014, he was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year and South African Cricketer of the Year.
- In 2015, he was awarded several awards: ICC ODI Player of the Year, South African Cricketer of the Year, Cricketers Cricketer of the Year and SA Fans Cricketer of the Year.
- He holds the record for scoring the most centuries (4) in less than 60 balls in ODI history.
- He scored the fastest ODI century in just 31 balls against West Indies in 2015. In the same match, he scored the fastest half-century in just 16 balls during the 39th over and the fastest 150 in 64 balls during a World Cup match against West Indies.
- He won the Man of the Match award in 5 Tests, 27 ODIs and 7 T20 matches
Innings of a ₹111 Crore IPL Journey
AB de Villiers dominated the Indian Premier League from 2008 to 2021, playing a key role alongside Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore before making his debut with the Delhi Daredevils. His dominance has only grown with each season, with his run-winning run-scoring form gaining popularity at the Chinna Stadium in Rajkot.
| Year | Team | Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Delhi Daredevils | ₹1.2 crore |
| 2009 | Delhi Daredevils | ₹1.47 crore |
| 2010 | Delhi Daredevils | ₹1.38 crore |
| 2011 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹5 crore |
| 2012 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹5.5 crore |
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹5.8 crore |
| 2014 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹9.5 crore |
| 2015 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹9.5 crore |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹9.5 crore |
| 2017 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹9.5 crore |
| 2018 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹11 crore |
| 2019 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹11 crore |
| 2020 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹11 crore |
| 2021 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹11 crore |
Total IPL earnings: ~₹111 crore
AB de Villiers’ Net Worth
As of 2025, AB de Villiers’ net worth is estimated to be between $25-30 million, accumulated through:
- Contracts with the South African Cricket Board (till his retirement)
- IPL deals (mainly with Royal Challengers Bangalore)
- Earnings from various franchise leagues around the world
- Brand endorsements (including Montblanc, Puma, MRF and others)
Follow Please include more details about his IPL earnings. Can you share which endorsements benefited him the most?
Family And Personal Life
AB de Villiers is happily married to Danielle de Villiers and has three children. Besides cricket, he enjoys music, golf, and charitable causes. Known for his easygoing personality, de Villiers is admired as a cricketer and a sports ambassador worldwide.
AB de Villiers’ House And Car Collection
Regarding his personal wealth, AB de Villiers’ net worth is estimated to be around $6 million. Various sources indicate that AB de Villiers owns a luxurious home located in one of Durban’s most posh areas. The estimated value of his home is around ₹25 crore (approximately $250 million).
Like many wealthy cricketers, AB de Villiers is also a fan of luxury cars. He owns an Audi Q7 and a BMW X5, two of the most popular high-end cars worldwide. Several reports also suggest that his car collection may include more than just these two models.
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Wrapping Up
AB de Villiers’ influence extends far beyond his incredible sixes and game-changing performances. With a career that combines brilliance and clever effort on the field, Mr. 360 has made his mark not only as a cricket legend, but also as a brand, entrepreneur, and global spokesperson.
Whether he’s behind the microphone, in business meetings, or exploring new technologies, AB de Villiers’s innings in the realm of finance and influence is far from over.