IN SACHIN'S LEAGUE

'AB de Villiers is going to be more popular than Sachin Tendulkar'

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AB de Villiers is in the Sachin Tendulkar category in ODI cricket, feels Fanie de Villiers © Cricbuzz

Fanie de Villiers wasn't too optimistic about South Africa's chances before the tour. The former South Africa pacer was worried that they would struggle in Indian conditions. However, so far, the Proteas are on top having won five out of seven games in the ongoing tour, winning both, the Twenty20 and One-day International (ODI) series. De Villiers, who is pleasantly surprised, spoke to TOI about South Africa's historic victory and various factors. Excerpts from an interview....

What do you think of South Africa's win in the ODI series?They surprised me by winning the ODI series. They didn't surprise me in winning the T20 series. With Ashwin not in the team, it made a lot of difference, but our boys played extremely well and I am extremely proud of them. I was very surprised the way they played in the last game. It was exciting to see them play such bold cricket.

What was the key for South Africa's success in this series?I think batsmen scoring hundreds made the difference. When batsmen score hundreds in India, it gives the team a chance to win games. Three hundreds in the last game (at the Wankhede) was just unbelievable.

What do you think of this South African attack?It's easy to win matches when somebody is chasing 400-odd runs. Then anyone can bowl. However, in the previous game, South Africa bowlers did an extremely good job. (Kagiso) Rabada is a wonderful little bowler. He has got a lot of potential. He will learn a lot from Steyn and Morkel. Tahir was an absolute trump card. He was our superstar.

Do you think South Africa will be more confident after this twin victory over India?You can't take this victory into the Test series. It's a completely different scenario. I think we all know that it is possible for South Africa to beat India if they play good cricket and if they will be able to handle and get used to the conditions. With all the games they have played and IPL, they have actually leveled the playing conditions by adapting well to Indian conditions. Our players are used to Indian conditions and India have been their own architect of this result by having overseas players getting used to the Indian conditions. In the past, we haven't lost against India, we have lost against the conditions.

India aren't good overseas, they are only good in their own conditions.They are basically the architect of their own downfall because you have created the scenario where our players can play in your conditions.

What's your take on AB de Villiers as a batsman and captain?Can I tell you something about AB de Villiers? AB is going to be more popular than Sachin Tendulkar in world cricket. That's the calibre of a person we are talking about; that's the cricketer we are talking about; that's the loveable, marketable player we are talking about. He is in the Sachin Tendulkar category. If you are in the Tendulkar category , when it comes to marketing the game of cricket, you are special. You can compare his records with Tendulkar; you feel this guy is even better than Tendulkar in ODIs. You can compare his popularity around the world and at home, he is in the category of Sachin Tendulkar.

It's a privilege to be in that class or category on and off the field. He is very much the same as Tendulkar. The moment you start going for all kinds of offfield flashy and blink, you develop a flaw in your personality. You are trying to show not what you are.

AB hasn't got any of those things and Sachin had nothing of that either. Sampras had nothing of that, Federer had nothing of that. When you're a top sportsman like Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers, you don't need to do anything like that. You are already very popular and that's a lesson for all those people full of tattoos, full of hair styles and full of earrings.

So you weren't surprised when the Indian public cheered for AB?Who else do the Indian public cheer for as much as AB? Not many. AB is that sort of cricketer. He should have been Test and T20 captain as well. They deprived AB of captaining South Africa in all formats.

© TNN

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