From ABD to Superman - An amazing journey in pictures

2011-2015: The transformation into a beast

He started off the World Cup with a bang

Leading into the 2011 World Cup, de Villiers was one of South Africa's premier batsmen, having scored runs across the world, averaging an overall 45, despite an indifferent against India just before the ICC tournament.

He started off with a bang, smashing two back-to-back hundreds, against West Indies and the Netherlands, as South Africa cruised into the next round.

De Villiers became more dynamic as the years progressed

However, the elation did not translate into long-lasting joy, as the side failed to chase down 222 against New Zealand in the quarter-finals. He ended with the highest runs (353 from 6 games) for his side, but the dream was broken yet again.

In 2011, he was contracted with the RCB

After fresh auctions, de Villiers was contracted by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, a side that he played with until this year. His 23-run thrashing of Dale Steyn in IPL 2012 became part of the tournament's folklore, as his popularity raged further in the country, while he showed more dynamism with his strokes.

In his first game as SA's ODI captain

Appointed captain of the ODI side against Sri Lanka in January 2012, he led his side to the biggest win over the Lankans.

Further into the year, a freak accident to Mark Boucher, and his subsequent retirement, forced de Villiers to don the wicketkeeping gloves on a full-time basis.

De Villiers against India in the 2012 World T20

By 2015, he was a complete batsman, and highlighted it in the year's opening month itself, smashing the West Indian attack to smithereens with a record-thumping 31-ball hundred, hitting nine fours and sixteen sixes in a single innings.

Celebrating the fastest ODI hundred ever

The World Cup arrived, and to it were pinned the hopes of de Villiers' side finally laying to rest the ghosts of ICC silverware. Against West Indies (again), he smacked a 66-ball 162, the fastest 150 in World Cup history, to set the ball rolling.

Barely a month later, he crushed West Indies again

It seemed like he had done all the right things to finally take the Proteas across, but the side couldn't latch onto crucial moments and failed to hold on to their nerves against New Zealand in the semi-finals. The picture of AB de Villiers crying after his side's heartbreaking loss was the poster cover for South Africa's failed campaign.

The picture, worth a thousand words