IPL thanks AB de Villiers’ wife for her pep talk

The Proteas one-day captain had everyone freaking out over a brilliant knock on Monday night but he had a secret weapon...

AB de Villiers was simply unstoppable in his first IPL match of 2017 on Monday night. Photo: Sajjad Hussain/AFP.

AB de Villiers had the cricketing world buzzing again on Monday evening with a magnificent innings in his first Indian Premier League (IPL) match of 2017.

Turning out for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Proteas one-day skipper whacked an unbeaten 89 off just 46 deliveries against the Kings XI Punjab.

De Villiers was truly at his brilliant best.

Showing no signs of a sore back, he went on his knee numerous times to hit the faster men square for six.

And when they bowled fuller, De Villiers merely carvede those balls for four.

It was rather surprising then that he later revealed that he had massive doubts going into the game.

“I did surprise myself,” De Villiers said in an on-field interview with the commentators.

“It is more of a mental thing than anything else, it’s not like you become a bad player overnight, the rustiness you refer to is more self-doubt.”

De Villiers has had to recover from a few injuries the past ten months and felt it necessary to specifically call his wife, Danielle, to help him soothe this fears.

“I phoned my wife just before the game telling her that I am doubting myself a bit but I surprised myself and played a few good shots,” he said.

“Actually, she was lying down with my children and had to call back later, and told me not to worry. She told me that she backs me and to stay calm and that she was on her way, arriving tomorrow, so I think that was the inspiration.”

Regardless of his own doubts, many prominent cricket stars were in awe on Twitter.

Wow @ABdeVilliers17 .👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) April 10, 2017

AB De villiers is so good that even the opposition can stand up and simply applaud. But Kings 11 Punjab looking clinical.#KXIPvRCB

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 10, 2017