Watch | AB de Villiers names top three batters and bowlers across formats: 'Kallis, ...'

NEW DELHI: The debate over who are the greatest batters and bowlers in cricket history continues to captivate fans across generations. While comparisons across eras often stir strong opinions, they remain deeply subjective — and sometimes surprising.

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Adding his take to the age-old discussion, South African legend AB de Villiers recently shared his personal picks for the top three batters and bowlers of all time across all formats. The moment came in a widely shared video clip, where de Villiers, fondly known as “Mr. 360” for his unorthodox and brilliant strokeplay, was asked to name his all-time greats.


After briefly considering Brian Lara, de Villiers settled on a trio of modern and past greats for the batters' list. He was quick to point out that the selection was based on all-format ability, making it even more difficult to narrow down.

The bowlers' list sparked even more curiosity as de Villiers named a mix of raw pace, lethal accuracy, and swing mastery. He smiled and clarified, “Okay, that’s bowlers, not spinners.”

AB de Villiers’ list of top three batters and bowlers:

• Batters: Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Virat Kohli
• Bowlers: Mohammad Asif, Dale Steyn and Glenn Mcgrath.

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While fans may agree or disagree with his selections, de Villiers' choices reflect the kinds of players who influenced his career and commanded his admiration on the field. Given his stature as one of the most innovative and successful batters of the modern era, his opinions carry significant weight.

As with all such lists, the conversation is sure to continue, fueled by passion, nostalgia, and cricket’s ever-evolving nature.


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