Former South African star AB de Villiers has voiced a strong opinion on how IPL batting stats are compared and admitted that he is frustrated by comparisons between middle-order batters and opening batters.

 

Speaking on the Mbangwa Media YouTube channel, former RCB batter said:

 

“It irritates the living daylights out of me. So, I hate it when they compare my runs to other players in the IPL, because then I go like, but I haven’t faced as many balls as the openers. It irritates the living daylights out of me.”

 

He further mentioned that the main reason for openers scoring a lot of runs is because they face the majority of the balls, adding:

 

“This guy scored 8,000 runs, he’s the best ever. I’m like, no, I’m better than him he’s faced more balls. Don’t do it.”

 

De Villiers added:

 

“And then on top of that, they’re all openers and they bat with these restrictions only two guys out, and it’s like, it’s the easiest thing in the world, especially in India. It’s ridiculous, man. You can’t play cricket like that.”

 

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Calls Powerplay Advantage Unfair to Bowlers

 

De Villiers further added that batters should not be compared between different batting roles. He said:

 

“But then don’t compare my stats now that I know that, with everybody. They’re all openers, all the main top run-scorers, the Orange Caps they have. Do you know why it irritates me?”

 

He also said that the batting side must be denied the use of a field during the powerplay:

 

“At the very least, okay, with a new ball, when the ball’s pinging and flying, at the very least just have your fielding restrictions taken away in the first six overs, T20s in India short boundaries, great wickets. The advantage is the new ball already. It’s flying. It’s already too easy. Don’t just have two fielders out of the ring.”

 

De Villiers stated that the opening batters gain a lot by facing the initial six overs at the batting crease, adding:

 

“But I do feel it’s a bit unfair to the bowlers in the IPL, the first six overs. Forget about the stats and me being me. It’s just a tough watch.”

 

He also added that several mistimed shots have been resulting in fours:

 

“Very often, they play bad strokes and get rewarded for it, your sliced ball that you didn’t hit in the area you wanted to… and you still get four.”

 

Comparing it to Travis Head he stated:

 

“Now it’s like Travis Head, it’s just flying everywhere. Inside edge four, outside edge four. Good shot, six, great, but it’s one out of three. What is that? 33% strike and you’re on 15 off four balls.”

 

When de Villiers was asked about how it feels to get an inside edge that goes for four, he said:

 

“Honestly, when I hit an inside edge for four, I feel embarrassed, I even sometimes apologise to bowlers, I swear because I feel like that’s not right.”

 

He also added that he batted at No.5 in the back end of his career and said:

 

“I got demoted to five at the back end of my career. I’m like, what do you got? because I’m a good finisher? No, give me a chance as well with a new ball up front.”

 

In the IPL, de Villiers scored 5162 runs in 184 matches at an average of 39.70 and a strike rate of 151.68 while playing mostly in the middle order.