|| India Correspondent ||

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has once again shown his class during the opening match of IPL 2021 between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. His blistering knock helped the Challengers win in the run-chase where he scored a knock of 48 runs off 27 deliveries at a strike rate of 177.78 before getting out just 2 balls before the game ends with 2 runs needed to win the game.

However, his knock earned respect across the cricket fraternity. And, batting legend Brian Lara too was impressed with his knock saying that he is timeless and knows how to control the game as well.

“He is timeless. He has got the experience. IPL is the only form of cricket he is playing at the moment. I suppose he is keeping fit and ready for it. At this stage, when you lost Virat Kohli, RCB needed him to come good. He was explosive at the right time, he controls the game. He came in after Glenn Maxwell as well, he controlled the game and got them home,” Lara told Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli too was also full of praise for AB de Villiers and said that what the former South Africa captain can do on slow pitches, not many can do that too.

"AB is probably the only one in the team who is so versatile. And what he does on slow wickets, not many can do. In a tricky chase you need experience at the back, and the opposition knows that if he doesn't get out, the bowlers get in a different headspace," Kohli shared.