AB de Villiers Shocks Cricket World! Tendulkar DROPPED From All-Time XI!
AB de Villiers, the legendary South African cricketer, has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world with his All-Time World XI selection! Unveiled during the World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL 2025) in England, where he's captaining the South Africa Champions, De Villiers' choices have sparked intense debate and discussion amongst fans and pundits alike.
The Tendulkar Tumble: A Controversial Omission
The biggest surprise? The exclusion of Sachin Tendulkar. Despite being widely considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, De Villiers overlooked the Indian maestro. Instead, he opted for Virat Kohli, his former IPL teammate and close friend, alongside MS Dhoni.
Other notable absentees from ABD's dream team include Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma.
The Chosen Few: ABD's All-Time XI Revealed
So, who made the cut? De Villiers selected a formidable lineup featuring a mix of legends and modern-day stars:
- Openers: Graeme Smith (South Africa), Matthew Hayden (Australia)
- No. 3: Ricky Ponting (Australia)
- Middle Order: Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
- Wicketkeeper/No. 7: MS Dhoni (India) (with Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher as alternatives)
Bowling Powerhouse: A Four-Man Attack
Interestingly, De Villiers opted for a four-man bowling attack, foregoing any all-rounders, even the great Jacques Kallis! His bowling lineup consists of:
- Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
- Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)
- Shane Warne (Australia)
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Glenn McGrath (Australia) was named as the 12th man.
De Villiers's selection has undoubtedly ignited passionate discussions. Do you agree with his choices? Let us know in the comments below!