
Feeling an AB de Villiers innings is rather an immersive experience. It is akin to the breathtaking silence preceding a symphony’s start and the disbelief that accompanies a squinting glance towards the scoreboard. Each de Villiers IPL performance was, in its own unique way, similar to a ‘Choreographed Chaos’, which is a contradiction in itself. Thus, while engaging in the exercise of sifting through AB de Villiers’ IPL scores, we rewind and relive a masterpiece crafted eloquently, combining brute strength with grace, a cricketing ballet.
The 133* That Broke the Noise Barrier
It happened on May 10, 2015, in the kind of Mumbai heat that melts soles and nerves. Against a well-drilled Mumbai Indians attack at the Wankhede, AB walked in with a plan — or perhaps without one. That’s the thing: with de Villiers, improvisation was the plan. He finished the innings unbeaten on 133 off 59 balls. But that number? That’s just the surface. What happened beneath it — the angles, the instincts, the footwork so subtle it felt like jazz — that’s what turned this into something unforgettable.
He flicked full balls over fine leg, reverse-swept fast bowlers, and pinged the straight boundary like it was drawn just for him. He didn’t slog. He sculpted. And with Virat Kohli anchoring from the other end, their partnership ballooned to 215 runs — a clinic in balance and pressure. It wasn’t just about destruction. It was a symphony that Mumbai, despite all their might, couldn’t silence.
Table 1: AB de Villiers – Top IPL Scores Snapshot
Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | Opponent | Year | Venue | Result |
133* | 59 | 225.42 | Mumbai Indians | 2015 | Wankhede | RCB won |
129* | 52 | 248.07 | Gujarat Lions | 2016 | Bengaluru | RCB won |
105* | 54 | 194.44 | CSK | 2018 | Pune | RCB won |
89* | 46 | 193.47 | Sunrisers | 2021 | Sharjah | RCB won |
82* | 43 | 190.69 | Kings XI Punjab | 2010 | Dharamsala | RCB won |
That 133*, though, remains the most poetic. It wasn’t just the highest score by AB de Villiers in the IPL — it was a masterclass in how to build an innings without a blueprint. There were no calculated risks. There were only movements that felt right. That’s how you know it’s instinct. That’s how you know it’s AB.
The De Villiers Code: Breaking Format, Not Rules
What makes his big scores so fascinating isn’t just the range of strokes — though that’s part of it. It’s his sense of timing, not just with the ball, but with the game itself. He knew when the bowlers were rushing through overs, when fielders were shifting nervously, when the crowd was waiting for release. And he delivered.
Unlike some power hitters who wait for the ball in the slot, de Villiers chased angles. He would step across, shift weight mid-shot, lift from outside off to behind square. He turned yorkers into full-tosses with a shuffle. His stroke-making felt unscripted, but that was the script — a batter who saw geometry where others saw limitations.
Innings like his 129* in 2016 weren’t blitzes. They were controlled storms. And that’s the theme: every one of his top knocks came with pressure. Whether chasing 200+ or rebuilding after early wickets, he became the calm in the middle of the IPL’s noise.
Table 2: Comparing Strike Rates in IPL 100+ Scores (Min 3 innings)
Player | 100+ Scores | Avg SR (100+ Innings) | Matches Played | 100+ SR per Match Ratio |
AB de Villiers | 3 | 222.64 | 184 | 1 every 61.3 matches |
Chris Gayle | 6 | 208.49 | 142 | 1 every 23.6 matches |
David Warner | 4 | 181.33 | 161 | 1 every 40.3 matches |
Virat Kohli | 5 | 169.20 | 237 | 1 every 47.4 matches |
While others may have more centuries, AB’s conversion rate — from start to carnage — remains brutal. His hundreds weren’t long fifties. They were escalations. Explosions. And when they came, they did so at warp speed.

No Trophy, Just Thunder
It’s the easy criticism, right? “No IPL title.” But how do you measure legacy? Trophies are team stories. What de Villiers built was more personal. He gave RCB fans something that outlasts campaigns — hope. The idea that as long as he was at the crease, anything was possible. That the impossible could happen next ball.
His highest score in the IPL isn’t just 133. It’s a memory that fans of all teams — not just RCB — remember. Because cricket, even in franchise formats, is still about moments. And no one — not Gayle, not Warner, not Kohli — made moments with the same rhythm, unpredictability, and freedom as AB.
So yes, if you ask what AB de Villiers highest score in IPL is, you’ll get a number. But what you should really ask is: how did it feel to watch it?

Meet Arjun Kushaan, a passionate cricket analyst at The Cricket24x7. From street matches in his childhood to competitive college tournaments, cricket has always been a central part of Arjun’s life. With a strong background in data analysis and a natural affinity for numbers, he brings a fresh, analytical lens to the game. At The Cricket24x7, Arjun blends his deep love for cricket with his data-driven approach to deliver detailed insights and well-rounded coverage for fans of the sport.