The South African legend selects his ideal combination across eight batting skills during the World Championship of Legends 2026.
South African legend AB de Villiers has picked his ultimate ODI batter by assigning some of the game's most iconic players to eight different batting disciplines. During an exclusive interaction with Star Sports ahead of the World Championship of Legends, de Villiers named MS Dhoni as the best power-hitter, Virat Kohli for his cover drive, and Rohit Sharma for his ability to play the flick off the pads.
“He’s quite brutal, especially in his heyday, during the best years. MS could hit a six at will, and the one that stands out was that 2011 ODI final,” said former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers on Star Sports.
De Villiers reserved special praise for Dhoni's ability to clear the boundary, citing the former India captain's iconic six in the 2011 ODI World Cup final as a memorable example of his power-hitting. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter's ability to strike sixes at will made him de Villiers' standout choice in the category.
For the cover drive, de Villiers picked his former Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate Kohli, appreciating the Indian batter's technique and control through the off-side. He chose Rohit for the flick off the pads, highlighting the former Indian captain's natural timing and touch. De Villiers also paired Kohli with Rohit as his preferred choices for running between the wickets.
Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, and Younis Khan complete the mix
De Villiers turned to Australia for two more batting disciplines, selecting Matthew Hayden for the straight drive and Ricky Ponting for the pull shot. He praised Hayden's ability to drive the ball straight back past the bowler with immense power, while Ponting's command of the pull shot, whether played off the front or back foot against short-pitched deliveries, earned him the nod.
For the cut shot, de Villiers chose his former South Africa teammate Jacques Kallis, recognising his balance and touch when playing the stroke. In a surprise selection, the former Proteas skipper named Pakistan's Younis Khan as the best exponent of the sweep shot, praising his range of variations and willingness to take on spinners with the innovative stroke.