In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the shoes of a cricket legend are large to fill. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Will Jacks, the task of taking on the mantle from none other than the South African maestro AB de Villiers seems “daunting.” Jacks, a promising talent who was enlisted by RCB in 2022 with understated anticipation, had been forced to sit out the 2023 season due to an injury. Upon his return, he made waves with his batting prowess, particularly during a match against Gujarat Titans where he solidified an unbeaten 166-run partnership with RCB’s stalwart, Virat Kohli.
His rapid half-century arrived in just 31 balls, and it took a mere 10 additional balls for Jacks to convert that into his maiden IPL century. The innings was sprinkled with five boundaries and a remarkable 10 sixes. This display of batting excellence swiftly drew parallels with de Villiers’ legacy, as his knack for forming robust partnerships and accelerating innings had been reminiscent of the legendary player’s time with RCB.
In a lighthearted interaction on the RCB Insider show, which blends cricket talks with comedy, Jacks faced questions about the considerable expectations placed on him as the franchise’s premier overseas batter. He humbly addressed the comparisons to de Villiers, referring to him as an “RCB Legend” and a “World Legend,” signaling the enormity of the challenge but also expressing his readiness to give his best.
AB de Villiers’ decorated career saw him amass over 20,000 runs for South Africa. His tenure with RCB spanned from 2011 to 2021, marking 157 matches with a contribution of 4,522 runs, maintaining an average of 41.10. Moreover, his remarkable strike rate of over 158 and haul of two centuries and 37 fifties have immortalized him in RCB’s ‘Hall of Fame’, alongside other cricket giants like Chris Gayle and Vinay Kumar.
In the current IPL season, Jacks has brought vitality to the pitch with 176 runs in just five matches, boasting an average of 44.00 and an impressive strike rate of over 191. On top of a century and a fifty, he’s also taken two wickets with his adept spin bowling. Recalling the moment RCB picked him, Jacks reminisced about the joy of being chosen, tempered by the frustration of injury that rendered him a spectator the following season.
Furthermore, the English all-rounder discussed replacing Glenn Maxwell during his bout of poor form, joking about the pressures of stepping in for such a player and the friendly rivalry they shared, extending to comical situations on the golf course.
Despite the individual successes of players like Jacks, RCB has had a tough season, sitting at the bottom of the points table with just three wins and seven losses, a total of six points. They look forward to changing their fortunes in the upcoming home game against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday.
RCB’s journey this season has been a roller coaster, but hopes remain high, especially with Jacks finding his groove and admirably shouldering the expectations that come with being compared to an IPL titan like AB de Villiers. The excitement for the next match and for Jacks’ future performances is palpable among the RCB faithful, as the team seeks to climb up from the depths of the points table and rekindle a spark of the glory days gone by.