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Sanjay Manjrekar He recently stirred the pot with his bold claim that one of Cricket’s most celebrated players, played for the “wrong franchise“During his illustrious 11-season tenure with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This claim has ignited debates about the impact of franchise dynamics on player performance and legacy.
Evil to RCB
Ab of Villliersoften called “Mr. 360“Because of his remarkable ability to play shots all over the ground, he is undeniably one of the greatest players in the history of T20 cricket. However, Manjrekar’s comments suggest that RCB may not have been the ideal fit for De Villiers’ immense talent He opined that the franchise’s management and strategy limited Villiers’ potential, especially in T20 cricket where match-winning performances are paramount.
)AB was amazing. But AB’s greatness was that he averaged 50 in tests. Even in one day (ODIS). So he’s an amazing player. But only if we look at T20 cricket; I’ve seen them a lot. AB, in IPL, was not used properly. His true skill. Then in IPL we didn’t get that much juice. Definitely (christened above). And, sorry to say, he’s played for the wrong franchise. Had he played somewhere else, we could have seen the greatness of AB de VilliersManjrekar stated during a discussion on Star Sports.
This criticism raises questions about RCB’s approach to using their star players effectively. Despite Villiers’ explosive and match-winning abilities, RCB have historically struggled to win an IPL title, finishing as runners-up three times without ever having to lift the trophy. De Villiers himself acknowledged RCB’s weaknesses over the years, especially in building a consistent core group of players, a strategy that has been successful for franchises like Bombay Indians i Chennai Super Kings.
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Legends Legacy Beyond Titles
While Manjrekar’s assessment may have some truth about the franchise strategy, it is crucial to recognize Villiers’ significant contributions to RCB during his tenure. He is the second leading scorer in franchise history with 4,522 runs from 2011 to 2021, trailing only Virat Kohli. His notable innings include a record 129 not out against Gujarat Lions In 2016, showing his ability to perform under pressure.
Furthermore, Villiers’ legacy transcends mere statistics. His innovative style and ability to entertain fans has made him a beloved figure in Indian cricket. Even after its withdrawal from all formats in 2021, it was declared as “RCB-ian for life“, highlighting his emotional connection to the franchise and its supporters.
Sanjay Manjrekar compares greatness
The controversy sparked by Manjrekar also led to a comparison between de Villiers and the current T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav. While Manjrekar ranked Suryakumar slightly above Villiers E Villiers in T20Is based on recent performances, he acknowledged that De Villiers remains superior in Tests and ODIs. This comparison highlights the evolution of T20 cricket and how different players excel in different formats.
