AB de Villiers may have hung up his international cricket boots, but at 41, the South African superstar continues to amaze. In the WCL 2025, de Villiers pulled off a sensational relay catch with Sarel Erwee to dismiss Yusuf Pathan—a moment that lit up the stadium and social media alike.
The Relay Catch That Turned Heads
- Over: 9th of India Champions’ chase
- Situation: Yusuf Pathan looked to smash Imran Tahir over wide long-on.
- Action:
- AB de Villiers, patrolling the boundary, leapt and plucked the ball out of the air.
- Realizing his momentum would carry him over the ropes, he brilliantly tossed the ball mid-air to teammate Sarel Erwee just before stepping outside the boundary.
- Erwee held onto the catch, but the credit belonged to ABD’s breathtaking athleticism and quick thinking.
- Impact: The relay effort sent Yusuf Pathan back and drew cheers from fans worldwide, who were thrilled to see de Villiers showcasing elite fielding skills well into his 40s.
AB de Villiers Shines With Bat Before Catch Heroics
Earlier in the match, de Villiers starred with the bat for South Africa Champions:
- Score: 63 off just 30 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes)
- Contributions: JJ Smuts (30), Hashim Amla (24), Jacques Rudolph (22), JP Duminy (16)
- Total: South Africa posted a challenging 208/6 in 20 overs.
India Champions’ Struggle in the Chase
- Early Collapse: India Champions lost 4 wickets with just 28 on the board.
- Resistance: Despite Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla taking two wickets apiece earlier in the match, their batting could not recover from the early blows.
- Final Twist: At 111/9 in 18.2 overs, floodlight failure led to the game being awarded to South Africa Champions via the DLS method.
Fan Reaction and Match Impact
- Fans lauded AB de Villiers for “turning back the clock” with his swift reflexes and smart relay catch.
- The Proteas’ performance, powered by de Villiers’ all-round brilliance, pushed South Africa Champions to a convincing win in the WCL.
AB de Villiers’ exploits on both field and with the bat proved that true legends never lose their spark, no matter their age.
