NEW DELHI: AB de Villiers, the renowned South African batter, recently shared his insights on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season during a discussion on his YouTube channel. He highlighted the potential of a rising Indian top-order batter and a young South African hitter who could excel in the tournament, set to commence on March 22.
The IPL’s 17th season is slated to kick off with a match between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, promising an exhilarating South Indian derby.De Villiers specifically praised Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opener who made waves with his stellar performances for Rajasthan Royals (RR), earning him a recall to the Indian national team across Test and T20I formats. De Villiers expressed confidence in Jaiswal’s abilities, predicting a potential 500-600 run season for him.
Additionally, while the name of the young South African hitter wasn’t disclosed in the provided excerpt, de Villiers’ endorsement suggests an exciting prospect awaits IPL fans. With anticipation building for the upcoming season, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the performances of players like Jaiswal and the promising South African talent highlighted by de Villiers.
“There is one guy that I absolutely cannot wait to watch. That is Jaiswal. He showed in the Test format what he is capable of. Now it is time for him in T20 cricket to really show his talent. With the amount of confidence he took from that Test series (against England), to take that into this IPL, I am expecting fireworks from this guy. I am expecting at least a 500-plus season, maybe even 600-plus,” said De Villiers.

Jaiswal’s recent performances have undoubtedly caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. His remarkable Test series against England showcased his exceptional talent and earned him well-deserved accolades, including the ‘Player of the Series’ award. Across five matches, Jaiswal’s impressive tally of 712 runs at an average of 89.00, featuring two double centuries and three fifties, underscores his prowess with the bat. Notably, his highest score of 214* epitomizes his ability to dominate the crease.
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Furthermore, Jaiswal’s consistency extends beyond the Test arena, as evidenced by his stellar contributions in the IPL. In the previous IPL season, he amassed 625 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 48.07, inclusive of a century and five fifties. Finishing as the fifth-highest run-scorer underscores his impact in the tournament, cementing his status as a rising star in the cricketing world.
De Villiers also named South African wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs as a player to keep an “eye out” for, pointing out how great he was in the second season of the SA20 tournament and how he can bowl some spin as well. Stubbs is also a wicketkeeper.
Stubbs will be representing Delhi Capitals this time, bought for Rs 50 lakh.
“He had a very good SA20 tournament. The year before that, he was a bit out of form, but this year, he has put up his hand and showed signs of what he’s capable of. He is a very talented young player, hits the ball very, very hard, he offers a lot with the ball in hand as well, he can bowl you off-spin, and he is absolutely incredible in the field. So, keep an eye out for him,” said De Villiers.
In 11 SA20 season two matches, Stubbs was the seventh-highest run-getter, scoring 301 runs at an average of 60.2, with three fifties. His strike rate was 168.15.
(With ANI inputs)