Imran Tahir, former South African and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player hailed AB de Villiers as the best finisher in the Indian Premier League, even better than MS Dhoni. The 44-year-old Imran Tahir praised de Villiers for his capacity to bat at any number, even at the top, where he can build an inning from scratch.
Speaking to Star Sports on Thursday, April 27th, during RR vs CSK, He said:
“Mujhe muskil me daal diya hai lekin dekhein mai samjhata hu ki modern cricket ka jo maine sabse best player dekha hai wo maine ye kaha bhi hai to mai usi pe atal rahunga and that’s ABD. Maine use bada player nahi dekha. Wo finishing ke role mein kare ya upar se inning ko build karne ke role me rahe, Mai samajhata hu, jitni cricket main khela hu, maine ABD jaisa player nahi dekha.”
Translated version:
“You have put me under the pump, but as far as I think, I have not seen anyone better than ABD. So, I would stick to him. I have not seen any bigger player than him, whether it’s finishing or building an innings at the top order. I have not seen any other player as special as him during my career.”
Imran Tahir has shared pitch with both of them
During his international and IPL careers, Tahir has shared the pitch with both AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni. He was a member of CSK’s championship squads in 2018 and 2021. During the IPL 2018 season, he also earned the purple cap after taking 26 wickets in 17 games.
AB de Villiers was inducted into the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Hall of Fame recently. In 170 IPL innings, the right-handed batter has scored 5,192 runs at a strike rate of 151.09, including three centuries and forty fifties. At No. 3, 4, and 5, he scored 2188, 1956, and 938 runs, respectively.
In contrast, MS Dhoni has 5039 runs in 211 IPL innings, including 24 half-centuries. The 41-year-old has scored the most of his runs at Nos. 4 (1555), 5 (1949), and 6 (935).
While de Villiers failed to win a trophy during his time with the Delhi Capitals (DC) and RCB, Dhoni’s CSK has won the IPL four times.
