India, Feb. 17 -- AB de Villiers, born on February 17, 1984, was destined to be a sporting icon. While he excelled in multiple sports, it was cricket that won his heart, and by the time he was 21, he was already being hailed as the future of South African cricket. Over the years, he redefined batting with his unparalleled shot-making ability, electrifying strike rate and adaptability across all formats.

On his birthday, let's revisit some of his greatest innings that cemented his legacy as one of the most versatile and destructive batters of the era.

AB de Villiers registered the highest individual score by a South African when he smashed an unbeaten 278 off 418 balls against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. He surpassed Gary Kirsten's 275 and pr...