“Na IPL Jeete Na ICC Jeete”: When Gautam Gambhir Downplayed AB de Villiers’ Credentials as Better IPL Batter Than Suresh Raina

If offending cricket fans by expressing an opinion against popular belief is an art, former team India batter Gautam Gambhir is undoubtedly the Picasso of it. Through his opinions, he has often come across as someone who has issues with star Indian cricketers namely MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, but has little care in the world of what people think of him.

Just a few months ago, the 41-year-old had come up with yet another controversial take before the commencement of the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League.

The Lucknow Super Giants mentor had refused to consider legendary South African batter AB De Villliers as one of the best batters in the history of the Indian Premier League.

Gautam Gambhir Downplayed AB de Villiers’ Credentials as Better IPL Batter Than Suresh Raina

Gambhir had made the statement in the capacity of a Star Sports commentator during the second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India this year.

When asked by the renowned presenter Jatin Sapru to choose one between Suresh Raina and de Villiers as his pick for the most incredible IPL batter, Gambhir did not hesitate one bit to name the former.

The former Delhi batter picked Raina over the legendary Royal Challengers Bangalore batter on the basis of number of IPL titles. He also rates Raina higher for having played majority matches for Chennai Super Kings on the slow wickets of the Chepauk Stadium over the years, while reckoned that any batter would have played like de Villiers did on the batting friendly pitches in Bengaluru.

“Parameter hai kya? Paramater hai ki AB de Villiers kuch nahi jeete apne career me. Na IPL jeete na ICC jeete. Suresh Raina apni poori Cricket Chepauk me khele. AB de Villiers ek ya do saal Delhi [Daredevils] me khele, uske baad Chinnaswamy me khele. Mere liye comparison bhi nahi hai. Suresh Raina hands down! [What’s the parameter? The parameter is that AB de Villiers has won nothing in his career. Neither IPL nor ICC (tournaments). Suresh Raina played his entire Cricket in Chepauk. AB de Villiers played one or two seasons in Delhi, and then at Chinnaswamy. For me,it’s not even a comparison. Suresh Raina hands down!]”

AB de Villiers agar apne 8 ya 10 saal Chinnaswamy me khelenge, itne chote ground mein kisi ko bhi khilaenge, to unki strike rate aur ability shayad utni hi hogi. Toh Suresh Raina chaar IPL titles, AB de Villiers, unfortunately, only personal records. [If de Villiers plays 8-10 years at Chinnaswamy, or if you rather play anyone in such a small ground, his strike rate or ability would be the same as well. Thus, Suresh Raina – four IPL titles, whereas de Villiers – unfortunately, only personal records].”

Suresh Raina and AB de Villiers’ Record in IPL at Their Home Ground

Raina had scored 1,498 runs across 56 matches, at an average of 29.96 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai between 2008-2019.

de Villiers, on the other hand, had amassed 1,960 runs across 61 matches, at an average of 43.55 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, from 2008-2019 as well.

While Raina had won four IPL titles for CSK during the years 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021, de Villiers retired without winning a single title for RCB.