Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers recently named his all-time World XI on the sidelines of the ongoing World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL 2025).
De Villiers, in a conversation with renowned sports presenter Shefali Bagga, unveiled his team. He selected Graeme Smith from his own country and Australia’s Matthew Hayden as his openers.
For the No. 3 spot, the 41-year-old picked legendary Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, followed by his former IPL teammate Virat Kohli. Surprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar — widely regarded as the greatest batter of all time — did not make the team.
To strengthen the middle order, de Villiers included Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. While he designated MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper, the former Proteas star also mentioned Mark Boucher and Adam Gilchrist as alternate options for the role.
No all-rounder in the XI
Interestingly, AB de Villiers did not include an all-rounder, opting instead for a four-man bowling attack. The pacers are Mitchell Johnson from Australia and Mohammad Asif from Pakistan, while Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan and Australian great Shane Warne make up the spin duo. Legendary pacer Glenn McGrath was named as the 12th man.
AB de Villiers’ All-Time World XI:
Graeme Smith (South Africa), Matthew Hayden (Australia), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), MS Dhoni (India), Mitchell Johnson (Australia), Mohammad Asif (Pakistan), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Shane Warne (Australia).
12th Man: Glenn McGrath (Australia)
AB de Villiers recently marked his return to the crease in the WCL 2025. After a slow start, he turned back the clock by smashing a 41-ball century. He is leading the South Africa champions and will be hoping to lift the title.
