When ABD blurred the lines between ‘supporters’ and ‘fans’

Bengaluru: This was not an Indian Premier League (IPL) game where he walked out to bat for the city franchisee but a batsman who would counter India, yet, when Abraham Benjamin de Villiers started his walk to the crease, around 20,000 fans were shouting ‘ABD.. ABD’ in chorus.
No wonder the parents seated in the VIP Stands were amazed at the scenes which certainly made them emotional.
But then, ABD is a special player, who has crossed the barrier with his skill and goodwill to transform himself from a star cricketer into a loved cricketer as he walked in for his 100th Test match.
After Sachin Tendulkar stopped at 200 Test matches, the 100 Test barrier has lost a bit of novelty but when the atmosphere of an Indian stadium feels like Kingsmead in Durban or Newlands in Cape Town, it means the protagonist in question has won many more hearts than number of matches that he has won for his team.
Perhaps the genuineness in De Villiers has helped him built a bridge between him and the Indian fans as effortlessly as he hits those reverse flicks of tearaway quicks.  There is a reason why Indian fans love their ‘ABD’. (PTI)