Though a debate over better players across eras remains a difficult one to justify, former India opening batter Virender Sehwag picked Virat Kohli as the No. 1 batter in ODI cricket history, ahead of his long-term teammate Sachin Tendulkar. Despite the fact that many reckon Tendulkar as the ‘God’ of cricket, a player who defined an era of cricket with his batting brilliance, Sehwag could only give him the No. 2 spot on his list. But, the former attacking opening batter did explain why he picked Virat over Sachin.

In a chat on Cricbuzz, Sehwag picked his top 5 batters in ODI cricket history. The list began with the legendary West Indies batter Chris Gayle, who was given the No. 5 spot. Gayle has a whopping 10480 runs to his name in the format in 304 appearances.

“Chris Gayle was a great batsman and opener. I remember India came to the West Indies in 2002-03, and Chris Gayle hit three centuries in a six-match series. He was the first player I saw at the international level who used to hit sixes from the back foot to fast bowlers,” he said.

The No. 4 spot was given to AB de Villiers, former South Africa captain, who aggregated 9577 runs in 228 ODIs over the course of his career. He was followed by ex Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who scored 11739 runs in 350 innings.

“No. 4 is AB de Villiers. I really liked the way he used to play. He’s the only batsman who can hit sixes off-balance. No. 3 is Inzamam-ul-Haq. He’s one of the best ODI players from Asia. Inzamam used to come out to bat at No. 4 and used to control the match. So, I learned from him how to take the match to the end. How you can control the match. At that time, it was very difficult to chase seven or eight runs in an over. But Inzamam used to do it with a smile. Because he used to calculate when and who to hit sixes,” Sehwag added.

While there’s no denying the camaraderie that Sehwag has with Tendulkar, he still preferred to pick Kohli over the ‘God’ on the list.

“Everyone’s favourite and my role model, Sachin Tendulkar. You know how it feels to walk on the ground with him? You’re going to the jungle with a lion. Everyone’s eyes are on the lion. And I used to quietly make my runs,” said Sehwag on Tendulkar.

Sehwag firmly believes it is quite difficult that the cricket world will be able to see a player with as much consistency as Kohli in ODI cricket.

“Virat Kohli is at number one. Virat Kohli jaisa khiladi shayad he aane wale samay mein aisa consistent player aaye jisko ek tag diya gaya hai-Chasemaster. In the beginning, he wasn’t the Virat Kohli who he is today. He also took his time and learned a lot. And after 2011-12, he has changed a lot. In his fitness and in his consistency. He has played amazing innings,” Sehwag concluded.

File photo of AB de Villiers

South African great Ab de Villiers hopes the BCCI will allow Indian players to take part in the SA20 in the near future as it will only raise the profile of the young franchise-based league. Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian cricketer to compete in the SA20 but that was only made possible when he announced his international and domestic retirement last year. The BCCI doesn’t allow active players to take part in overseas leagues and as of now, the only way to play events outside India is by calling time on your career at home. Having said that, there is a growing trend of cricketers taking retirement in India to try their luck in the burgeoning overseas competitions.

“I would love to see more Indian players involved. We know Dinesh Karthik will be here this year which is fantastic and it’s great for the tournament.

“And hopefully the BCCI will allow us to get more Indian players in the future to come and join the fun of the SA20,” said de Villiers in a select media interaction ahead of third edition of SA20 beginning on January 9.

Having said that, he is fully aware that the BCCI is not going to make active Indian players available for overseas leagues anytime soon but he would love to his the likes of Virat Kohli being part of SA20.

”It would be nice to see some Indian players, especially in the peak form of their careers, come over and play. If I had to pick, I’d choose all the current players: Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav.

“Imagine SKY playing here — that would be amazing! But if I think about past players, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, or maybe even Irfan Pathan come to mind. Some of these players already participate in Masters Leagues around the world. Who knows, maybe I’ll join them in the near future,” said de Villiers.

He also reckons that only way to keep a league ahead of its rivals is by attracting the best overseas talent like the IPL has done over the years.

“We (SA20) can just keep growing with regards to the overseas players. That’s a large part of the success of the IPL over the years and I’ve followed the IPL since 2008. It’s every year the overseas contingents seem to get stronger and stronger.

“You get the best players in the world and the best players in India and that combination makes for great cricket. So I think for Graeme Smith and his team moving forward it’s just to keep pushing hard, as hard as they can (to get the best overseas talent),” de Villiers said.

De Villiers not a fan of impact player rule

The contentious impact player rule in the IPL has been extended till 2027 but de Villiers is not a fan of the concept.

When asked if the rule should be introduced in SA20, he added:” “I’ve never been a big fan, to be honest, and I did speak about it at the IPL last season. I feel it’s a bit confusing, it also puts a bit of pressure on the all-rounders and their role in the teams.

“From the outside it looks exciting, but actually when the game takes place, I’ve never found it to be… a good thing to have in cricket. So, I mean, you can try it out. And the SA20, they’ve always been open to new ideas and new rules, which I find good,” he said.

Virat Kohli’s former Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate AB de Villiers has advised the struggling Indian batter to “reset” his mind and avoid on-field battles as he concluded a horror tour of Australia.

Kohli and Rohit Sharma were woefully out of form during the just-concluded Test series against Australia. The 1-3 series defeat resulted in the team losing out on qualifying for the World Test Championship final. Kohli could manage only 190 runs in his nine innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, repeatedly offering edges to the slip cordon or keeper.

“I think the thing is to reset your mind every time. Virat loves the fight, but when you’re not in the form of your life, it’s best to get rid of those things. As a batter, it is to reset every single and understand every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler,” de Villiers said in a video he posted on ‘X’.

“I think sometimes Virat forgets about that because of his fighting spirit and the nature of the man wanting to be involved and show the whole of India he is there to fight for them,” the South African batting legend added.

“The skill, experience and greatness of the guy (Kohli) are not an issue. It’s sometimes about the refocus after every single ball. Maybe sometimes he gets involved too much.” Australia beat India by six wickets in the fifth and final Test at the SCG to regain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Following the hundred in the series opener, Kohli’s troubles outside the off-stump compounded as he was caught in the slip cordon eight times over the course of five Tests.

The tour that got over on Sunday was probably Kohli’s last in Australia.

“I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That’s one of his biggest strengths and it can also be a weakness. During this series, we saw him have individual battles with some of the players, the crowd got under his skin,” De Villiers said.

“Every single batter in the world has some sort of weakness or some dismissals that keep coming up. Of course, Virat can overcome his problem and come back to form.

“It takes a lot of character, a lot of hunger, lot of hours in the nets. I think the thing is to reset your mind, every time,” the South African urged Kohli.

Following India’s 1-3 series loss to Australia, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has reacted to the rumours of a rift within the dressing room. India lost the series-deciding Sydney Test by 6 wickets on Sunday, with the defeat ending their slim hopes of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. However, in the lead up to the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, one term that went viral on social media was ‘Mr. Fix It’. A report in the Indian Express mentioned that a certain player in the team proposed his name for ‘interim captaincy’.

However, de Villiers suggested that these things aren’t new in the sport, especially when a team is playing away from home.

“I know there have been some rumours. I’m not surprised. When there’s smoke, there’s fire. I’ve been part of dressing rooms where it’s been hostile. Especially when you’re away from home, you’re missing your family, and you’re not playing the best cricket of your career,” De Villiers said in a video posted on X.

De Villiers, however, claimed that he won’t be surprised if the rumours are indeed true, especially with the results not going in favour of the team.

“The dressing room is crucial, especially away from home. It’s easier at home. I have no doubt that the Indian team dressing room might have lost that a little bit over the last weeks in Australia. When you start losing faith in each other, you might as well sit on the sides and hand over the trophy. I don’t have facts with regards to the Indian dressing room. I’ll wait for facts to see who’s been niggling with who,” he added.

De Villiers also recalled an incident during his playing days when South Africa were clean swept by Australia both home and away.

“It’s very easy for bad stuff and bad habits to creep into the dressing room. We also had that against Australia in 2006 when we lost 2-0 in Australia and then lost 3-0 in South Africa. We lost five out of six Tests. It wasn’t sunshine and roses in that dressing room, we were squabbling with each other. It’s everything, in my opinion. That’s the kind of stuff I believed in when I captained teams. For me, it was a non-negotiable. The dressing room needed to be truthful, guys were loyal to each other, there was great atmosphere and spirit, and we always respected the guy next to you. If you have that, even if you’re losing, you still have a good dressing room,” the former South Africa captain highlighted.

File image of Vaibhav Suryavanshi.© X (Twitter)

Former Australia cricketer Michael Hussey shared his experience the first time he faced a young Jasprit Bumrah in the Mumbai Indians nets during his brief stint with the franchise in 2014 and Hussey revealed that he couldn’t have foreseen the meteoric rise of the wiry pacer, but he wasn’t entirely surprised either. The former Australian batting maestro reflected on his initial encounter with Bumrah, the doubts surrounding his unconventional bowling style, and the stern advice he offered to the young pacer early in his career.

“I actually played a year with him in the IPL when I was with the Mumbai Indians,” Hussey told Willow Talk. “He was just a young kid coming through. I remember facing him in the nets and literally couldn’t get bat on the ball. I felt like I was using a toothpick.”

The Aussie great was left awestruck by Bumrah’s unique action and sharp pace.

“I couldn’t even see the ball, let alone pick it coming out of his hand. His action is so different, so deceptive. My first impression? I honestly didn’t think he’d even make it to the crease. His run-up was staggered and awkward. I remember thinking, ‘Who is this guy?’ And then suddenly, woof—the ball whistles past my eyebrows at 145kph!”

At the time, Bumrah was seen as a white-ball specialist with limited potential for Test cricket. Hussey recalled the conversations swirling in Indian cricket circles back then.

“In India, there was so much scepticism. People said his action and run-up would be too hard on his body, that he wouldn’t last in Test cricket,” Hussey said. “They thought he was made for white-ball cricket alone. But even back then, I could see his skills and ability. I knew that if he had the desire to play Test cricket, he could succeed.”

Hussey was full of admiration for Bumrah’s achievements in the longest format of the game. “Isn’t he doing it bloody well at the moment? It’s just phenomenal to see how he’s grown.”

Hussey also shared an anecdote about a game-changing moment early in Bumrah’s IPL career. It was a match between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 when Bumrah dismissed the legendary AB de Villiers.

“He burst onto the scene in the IPL and bowled brilliantly. I remember one game where he got AB de Villiers out. Obviously, AB is one of the greatest, and Bumrah gave him a big send-off. AB wasn’t happy,” Hussey recalled.

The send-off didn’t sit well with Hussey either. After the game, the veteran took the young bowler aside for a word of advice.

“I told him, ‘Mate, you don’t need to do that. You have so much skill and talent. Just getting the wicket is the biggest statement you can make. If you want respect in the game and from your peers, you don’t need send-offs.’”

Hussey admitted it was an uncharacteristic moment for Bumrah, who he described as one of the most humble and down-to-earth cricketers he’s met.

“He’s such a great guy. That send-off was out of character for him. He’s always smiling, always calm, and consistent in his behaviour. He doesn’t get too emotional. It’s one of the reasons he’s such a phenomenal bowler and such a joy to watch.”

Looking back, Hussey marvelled at how far Bumrah had come since those early days. “He’s unbelievable. Watching him grow into one of the best bowlers in the world has been incredible. From a kid in the nets who terrified us to one of the most respected cricketers globally, it’s been a joy to witness.”

South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen admitted that he is hesitant to try India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav’s shots and also revealed his thoughts on T20 cricket, his memorable innings and a few personal favourites. Asked to describe his batting style in one word, Klaasen replied simply, “Explosive.” When it came to naming the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) T20 player, he said on JioCinema’s Q20s show, “I would say… Suryakumar Yadav probably.”

Known for his hard-hitting approach, Klaasen shared that his favourite shot is the “pick-up pull shot” and named Jasprit Bumrah as the “toughest bowler to hit out in T20s.” When asked to pick a shot he’d like to borrow from a batter, past or present, he replied, “It would be a combination of the scoop of AB de Villiers and Suryakumar Yadav. They both have this technique to hit fine leg off straight balls, which is phenomenal.”

Reflecting on his T20 career, Klaasen recalled two standout performances against India – his 81 in 2022 or 69 in 2018. He chose the former as his favourite. “Probably the 81. That was the better one in tougher conditions,” he remarked.

Klaasen named Yuzvendra Chahal as “the funniest non-South African player” he’s played with and shared his love for butter chicken as his favourite Indian dish.

For inspiration from other sports, Klaasen named multiple Formula 1 World Drivers Championship winner Lewis Hamilton, saying, “I wish I had the ability to drive cars like him.”

Klassen also suggested that Nicholas Pooran is the one batter who could potentially score a double hundred in T20 cricket. When asked who he’d trust to bat for his life, he replied, “Probably Hashim Amla.”

Speaking about the one shot he’s always wanted to try but hesitated on, Klassen said, “The one that Suryakumar Yadav plays over fine leg – Supla Shot. I don’t like getting into line too much,” he admitted with a laugh.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) great AB de Villiers has ruled out the possibility of his franchise signing star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Pant is one of the several big Indian names entering the IPL 2025 mega auction, after he was released by the Delhi Capitals. Pant is expected to witness a bidding war in the mega auction and de Villiers feels that RCB might not be able to match the final bid for the player at the auction table in Riyadh.

De Villiers feels Pant might re-unite with former DC head coach Ricky Ponting, who has now joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the same role. PBKS will enter the auction with a purse of Rs 110.5 crore, the most among all 10 franchises. 

“I hear you. I think it is incredibly unlikely that RCB will get hold of Rishabh Pant, I think he will be too expensive and all the franchises are going to go for him in the auction. Punjab Kings spend whatever they can to get him, that’s my personal feeling. It’s my gut feel, I feel there is a very tight connection between him and Ricky Ponting. I think we are going to see him at Punjab Kings. We’ll see what happens, if not, it would be great if RCB can have Rishabh, but I just think, he is going to be too expensive,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

Apart from Pant, KL Rahul will also go under the hammer at the mega auction, and de Villiers suggested RCB should instead try to sign their former player. The former South Africa captain, however, wants RCB to sign quality bowlers, as well as some talented local players.

“I have told you guys that I want RCB’s focus to be on the bowling department, a world-class spinner and also some local players. Want some Bengaluru players in there, I have heard Anil Kumble say it before that they don’t keep their local players, quality talented local players. KL is a quality player, he might be a bit cheaper. Definitely not a bad pick, I love him to bits. The way he plays and I think he is due to come back into form. The classy players like him find a way to come back into form. KL Rahul can also take over from Virat, he is not that old yet. But focus on bowling department, world-class spinner and local batters,” he added.

The IPL 2025 mega auction will be held in Riyadh on November 24 and 25.

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers says he is proud of India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who is excelling in his new role as opener in the national T20I set-up. De Villiers revealed he and Samson have been in touch for a while, and suggested that something has changed in the latter’s game. The former Proteas captain’s remark came after Samson smashed a century in the first T20I against South Africa on Friday, his second triple-figure score in as many games in the format. 

“Sanju Samson, who scored a massive 100. Back-to-back T20 hundreds, absolutely incredible. Am incredibly proud of the guy, I say proud because I do have a personal connection with him. We have been in touch for a number of years now. I have always been a big fan of Sanju Samson, I just love the way he plays, and I always want him to do well,” de Villiers claimed in a video on his YouTube channel.

Striking at 214, Samson hit a 50-ball 107 with the help of 10 sixes and 7 fours in the series opener at Kingsmead, Durban. Having closely observed his game, de Villiers claimed Samson has discovered “another gear” in his game.

“He scored a 100 once at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against RCB, I was on the park and I realised that day, that this guy is something special and he is proving me right. For those of you who have followed Sanju Samson, I haven’t often seen him bat at a strike rate of more than 200, he is generally more conservative, he is usually between 140-160 and both these hundreds he has scored back-to-back have been very very fast and especially this last hundred,” he added.

However, de Villiers doesn’t feel that the current Indian team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, has had any influence in Samson’s redemption. In fact, de Villiers feels that Samson has reached a point in his career where he can only improve and take his batting to another level

“Something has triggered there, something has clicked in his game which is absolutely great to watch. The thing about him is that he makes it effortless out there. I don’t see much experimentation going out there. Not a lot of creativity in terms of funny shots, doesn’t seem that he wants to entertain the crowd and please someone, he just sticks in his little bubble and he just is easy on the eye,” said de Villiers.

“Sanju has upped the gear in his game. I hope the selectors are watching this for all the formats. I wan to see this guy play all the formats. I think he is someone who is really really special, someone who can play all the formats, in all conditions around the world. Something has clicked in the Sanju Samson world, whether it’s the coaching staff, I doubt it. No disrespect to VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, whoever is a part of the coaching group. I just feel that this guy has reached the maturity point, he has realised something. It is exciting to all of us Samson fans. I think there is another gear, a sixth gear, I want to see it unfold,” he added.