Table of Contents
Few cricketers share a camaraderie as special as AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. Their partnership lit up the Indian Premier League (IPL), especially during their years at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Fans often associate their bond with breathtaking run chases and unforgettable moments.
But when it came to picking the five best Test players he has faced or played alongside, de Villiers surprised many by leaving Kohli out of his elite list.
AB de Villiers’ top five Test players
Speaking on the ‘Beard Before Wicket Podcast’, de Villiers revealed his hand-picked five legends of Test cricket. His choices covered a mix of batting brilliance, all-round dominance, and bowling mastery.
The players who made his top-five list are:
Jacques Kallis: A South African great and arguably the most complete all-rounder in cricket history.
Andrew Flintoff: The English powerhouse known for his fiery spells and match-winning knocks.
Mohammad Asif: Pakistan’s seam magician, admired by many for his exceptional skill with the ball.
Shane Warne: The Australian spin legend whose impact on the game remains unmatched.
Sachin Tendulkar: India’s cricketing icon, revered globally for his batting artistry.
Why Sachin Tendulkar stood out among De Villiers’ elite list?
While de Villiers named four other legends before him, it was Tendulkar who received the most glowing praise. De Villiers recalled the unique atmosphere every time Tendulkar walked out to bat.
“Kallis, Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Warne. Sachin with the crowds. Just the way he was acknowledged while walking out to bat. It was like a standstill moment. Beautiful the way he batted. Virat. Sorry. Sachin. That’s why it’s difficult to answer such questions,” de Villiers said.
The South African maestro highlighted how Tendulkar’s arrival at the crease would bring everything to a pause – a rare phenomenon in world cricket.
Also READ: Not Suryakumar Yadav ! AB de Villiers picks next ‘Mr. 360’ in the world cricket
De Villiers’ glorious Test career
It’s important to remember that de Villiers himself is no stranger to greatness in Test cricket. The former South African captain ended his Test career with 8,765 runs in 114 matches. His numbers included an average of 50.66 and 22 centuries, placing him among the finest batsmen of his era.
De Villiers was admired not just for his statistics, but for the versatility in his batting – equally capable of stubborn defense and explosive stroke play. His adaptability made him one of the most feared opponents across formats.
Also READ: DPL 2025 – Nitish Rana sparks buzz with a cryptic post over the on-field clash with Digvesh Rathi
