AB de Villiers turned back the clock to the good old days of cricket as the 41-year-old South African legend smashed an unbeaten 120 off just 60 balls while battling a hamstring injury on Saturday. His ton propelled South Africa Champions to a thumping 9-wicket win over Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final. De Villiers, a former South Africa captain, completed his century off just 47 balls, including 12 boundaries and seven sixes. Known for his all-round 360-degree hitting, de Villiers awestruck fans with his magnificent timing, composure, and clean striking as he made a daunting 196-run chase look effortless. In a show of his passion and dedication to the game, de Villiers braved the pain he suffered mid-innings - requiring medical attention - and pushed through discomfort with sheer brilliance. Ably supported by his former Proteas teammate JP Duminy, who scored an unbeaten 50 off 28 balls, de Villiers clinched the match with 19 balls to spare. His batting at Edgbaston, Birmingham was a treat for the fans, and his efforts earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. De Villiers finished the series with a staggering 429 runs. At a time when India Champions’ decision to pull out of the tournament’s semifinal clash against Pakistan Champions as a mark of protest over the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir dominated the discourse, de Villiers brought the attention back to the game. Former India batter Suresh Raina was in awe of de Villiers’ batting in the final, and exclaimed: “What a knock by AB de Villiers in the final, absolutely smashed it. Had we played, we would’ve crushed them too, but we chose our nation above everything else.” Earlier, Pakistan Champions captain Mohammad Hafeez won the toss and chose to bat first. Sharjeel Khan scored 76 off 44 balls.