Twitter erupts as AB de Villiers registers a golden duck

De Villiers is a kind of player who has fans from all around the globe and his current run of bad form hasn't gone down well with his ardent fans.

Published - 07 Jun 2017, 20:13 IST | Updated - 07 Jun 2017, 20:13 IST

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South Africa are taking on Pakistan in their second game of the Champions Trophy. Considering weather conditions in England, a win today would in all probability secure a semifinal berth for the Proteas. This makes today’s game at Cardiff very important. Considering the slow nature of the pitch South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.

When you elect to bat first, you hope to pile on a big total and for that you need your big players to shine. After losing openers within first 14 overs South Africa must have ben banking on its superstar AB de Villiers to consolidate the innings from there.

De Villiers got a golden duck

De Villiers got out on the very first ball of his innings when he tried to go for an expansive drive to the ball deliberately tossed by Pakistan left-arm spinner Imad Wasim. AB has been in the bad form of late after recovering from a long injury layoff in March.

He is going through a lean patch ever since. Apart from one or two god innings, de Villiers had a very bad tournament on personal and team level. There are murmurings that de Villiers is past his prime now and a long career in which he has been a wicketkeeper too is taking a toll on his body in the injuries which in turn is hampering his form.

He is having a rough time of late especially against left-arm spinners, that’s why we see captains employing left-arm spinners as soon as he comes out to bat. But he is too good a batsman to be discounted on basis of few failures. Can he get over his troubles?

Here are some pick of the tweets on his failure & South Africa’s collapse

First time in AB de Villiers' ODI career that he has bagged a Golden Duck. #CT17
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 7, 2017

#ABDevilliers Got Out On Golden Duck. Better Not To Risk Life, You Never Know When They'll Throw Bombs Instead Of Ball. #PAKvSA #SAvPAK
— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) June 7, 2017

6 out of 7 ducks in ODIs for AB de Villiers have come in ICC events. (4 in CWC, 2 in CT) #CT17 #SAvPAK
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) June 7, 2017

AB de Villiers scored his last Odis 100 in Feb 2016, since then 20* innings without a 100…last phase of career..??
— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) June 7, 2017

Ab De Villiers
Yesterday : Selfie with Yahya Hussaini
Today : Out on Golden Duck #PakvSA #PakvsSA pic.twitter.com/49ajx51vME
— Ahsan. ?? (@iPakistaniLAD) June 7, 2017

Most ODI runs before making a Golden Duck
9303 – AB de VIlliers
7467 – Mark Waugh
6098 – Stephen Fleming#CT17 #PAKvSA
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) June 7, 2017

@ZAbbasOfficial I wish you would have said same to @imVkohli ?#ThankyouZainab #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/Hsu5TTQnbU
— musafir (@BaeBuss) June 7, 2017

World No 1 Batsman AB de Villiers' ducks in ODIs:
1st golden duck of his career
1st duck since 2013 Champions Trophy,
2nd duck since 2007.
— Zeeshan Ahmed (@mrsportsjourno) June 7, 2017

South African team members are still in Delhi Daredevils team mode ?#PAKvSA
— SaahilMurli Menghani (@saahilmenghani) June 7, 2017

Pakistan seems in some mood to thrash number 1 team, thsts y we call them team of unpredictable. #PAKvSA
— shailesh rahul (@shaileshrahul) June 7, 2017

Could this be the first upset of the tournament…?? #PAKvSA #CT17 #StarSportsதமிழ்
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) June 7, 2017

OHH Pakistan why you do this? one day you are world-beater, next day you look like club side. #CT17 #PAKvSA always hard to predict…
— NISHANT JEET ARORA (@NJA21) June 7, 2017

This is what a predictably unpredictable team do to No.1 team in the world. SA have no clue whats happening to them
#PAKvSA #CT17
— IKRAM (@IKRAMULAHAD) June 7, 2017

Watching Hassan Ali bowl like… #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/fQOQ719GvI
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) June 7, 2017

I was not expecting this!! 118-6! Pakistan have been OUTSTANDING! Ruthless, skillful and aggressive!! #tms #CT17 #pakvsSa ?
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) June 7, 2017

Spinners doing a good job for #PAK , wouldn't be a bad idea to use all of their spin options against #SA #PAKvSA #CT17 #StarSportsதமிழ்
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) June 7, 2017

Pakistan have been brilliant – have their tactics spot on today ??
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) June 7, 2017

Great start Pakistan, outstanding bowling form Imad, Hafeez and Hassan. Pakistan must sustain momentum and look to dismiss SA under 200.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 7, 2017