Book Review - AB: The Autobiography by AB de Villiers

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars
Publisher - Pan Macmillan
Genre - Autobiography
Publishing year - 2016
Language - English
ISBN - 978-1-5098-4276-6
Pages - 328

My Review - 

Born and brought up in Bela-Bela, South Africa, AB is the youngest child, always surrounded by boys. His two elder brothers and family loved sports, and he grew up playing cricket in his backyard. 

When so many youngsters figuring out their future plans and prepare for college studies, this South African cricketer played his debut match in 2004 at the age of 20. 

He has played different sports before Cricket and excels in them. He also cleared the misconceptions around the titles he won or won't in Tennis, Rugby, Swimming, Badminton, Sprint, and Golf. He mentioned how valuable his team and teammates were to him. He openly praised each and every person who supports him in his journey. 

He mentioned the significant roles played by several coaches, executives, and managers that show his down-to-earth behavior. He always put his team first, but he also values his family. 

Unlike Kevin Pietersen's autobiography, this book is filled with AB's cricket career each year and every game he played. So, for some readers who are not much into the statistics, the chapters seem tedious. 

AB de Villiers also talked about having a white player policy, but his opinions appear diplomatic. It is hard for white people to play for South Africa; that's why Kevin Pietersen moved to England. I wonder if he got a chance, what will happen? AB and Kevin both playing for SA; no wonder the audience goes crazy. 

Being an Indian, it is an honor that AB dedicates a whole chapter to India. He considered Bengaluru as his hometown in India. So many international players get fame and money from IPL; AB is also one of them. 

He gave insights about his struggles in the IPL team and how he proved his worth. When Indians chant his name from the stands, it overwhelms him. He also proposed to Danielle in India, in front of the Taj Mahal. 

The book lacks personal moments with family, but it is loaded with the team's achievements and lessons from the losses. The speeches and mottos that helped them go on, his role as a captain and a team player, are worth reading. 

It is vital to have supporting mates and coaches, especially when they collectively spend a lot of time. When IPL starts, the SA cricket board backed the players and allows them to perform there without any difficulties, unlike Britishers, who backlashed KP. 

The Proteas help each other to grow, which is inspiring. For him, playing for South Africa is the most generous and most honorable thing in his life. For me, watching him play great innings in the field is one of the most pleasant times of my life. If you're a fan of him, do read his story in his own words.

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