Royal Challengers Bangalore’s AB de Villiers on Thursday pulled off an incredible one-handed catch at the fence to leave cricket fans wide-eyed.
Fielding at deep mid-wicket the South African had a chance to send back a dangerous Alex Hales who was threatening to set base for Sunrisers Hyderabad as they looked to chase a mammoth 219-run target set by RCB.
Hales batting on 37 was eyeing the fence off nearly every ball. He looked to hoick one off Moeen Ali. He, and so did most viewers, felt he had the necessary height and distance needed to clear the fence and get another six under his belt.
De Villiers, though, poured cold water on his hopes pulling off a stunning catch. He leaped in the air and extended a hand to pick the ball out of thin air and leave those watching gasping.
Here’s the VIDEO:
Is the AB de Villiers catch the best ever in the history of the IPL?
Twitter was quick to come out and express their shock at the manner in which he completed the catch:
Saw #SpiderMan Live today! ?@abdevilliers17#RCBvsSRH #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/mUuGVKuTn4
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 17, 2018
Mr. Superman!! ??
Is there anything this man can’t do?What a Catch by AB de Villiers ???#RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/auNK77lPqU
— I Don’t Wanna Go!! (@iamtnvr) May 17, 2018
This is how Ab De Villiers saves RCB in IPL #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/DnXIi5pL13
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) May 17, 2018
Even the forces of gravity bow down to AB deVilliers’ athleticism #RCBvSRH #Superman
— Akhila Ranganna (@akhilar) May 17, 2018
Hey @MarvelStudios since you killed of Spiderman (sequel bait)
Let me present you an apt replacement for him in the next film
His name is Abraham Benjamin DeVilliers or ABD in short #AsliAvenger #Mr360 #ThanosWho pic.twitter.com/GbF8yksMh2— Shakti Chaturvedi (@ico90clast) May 17, 2018
AB > Boult > Rashid? All on the same ground btw
— Sidvee (@sidvee) May 17, 2018
Moeen Ali also said it was “an unbelievable catch” and “one of the best I’ve ever seen”.
The Englishman added, “When he hit it, I thought [it was going to go for] six, but with AB there you’ve always got a chance. What a grab! He’s an amazing fielder, everybody knows that, and he can do that.”
However, De Villiers did not think too highly of his own effort;
“I made it look better than it actually was,” he said in the post-match presentation. “I got into a bad position [to take the catch]. The ball had a bit of a curve on it, so the minute I took the jump I realised it was a little outside of my body and I just had to put my right arm out. Luckily, it stuck.”
The catch upstaged Rashid Khan’s similar effort earlier in the day:
Related: Watch how Trent Boult took catch of the season to dispatch Virat Kohli
