'He's a freak'

AB de Villiers showed off his outrageous array of strokes as he took apart Mumbai Indians in a crunch IPL game. Though he finished with a strike rate of 225, it wasn't a blaze of manic swiping as he relied more on controlled hits and typical invention. As usual, his batting left fans, pundits and players astonished.

David Warner, one of the best batsmen in the world, had his say on who's the best.

What an innings by @ABdeVilliers17 as I said before best batter in world cricket!!

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) May 10, 2015

As bowlers and commentators wondered how to contain de Villiers, Irfan Pathan had a suggestion.

I'm writing an official complain as a bowler against @ABdeVilliers17. All the bowers please join me @IPL #legend

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 10, 2015

Some were just happy that they weren't in the opposition in Mumbai.

For once I'm not on the receiving end of @ABdeVilliers17 onslaught. @RCBTweets #snipers #playbold #gunsunleashed

— Darren Sammy (@darrensammy88) May 10, 2015

James Neesham underlined his growing reputation as one of the wittiest cricketers on Twitter.

Fear of spiders is arachnophobia. Fear of tight spaces is claustrophobia. Fear of bowling to AB is logic.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) May 10, 2015

Has anyone ever seen AB and superman in the same room? Didn't think so.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) May 10, 2015

De Villiers' South Africa team-mate Chris Morris put aside wit and summed up de Villiers in three words.

He's a freak! #AB

— Chris Morris (@Tipo_Morris) May 10, 2015

While others brought up the internet's favourite superhuman.

Chuck Norris says he refuses to bowl to AB de Villiers.

— Dennis Does Cricket (@DennisCricket_) May 10, 2015

It is de Villiers' fifth season with Royal Challengers, and it was a bit surprising that it has taken so long for him to score his first century for the team.

Been a long time coming, but @ABdeVilliers17 finally has an #RCB 100!!! WHAT AN INNINGS!!!!!!!! #legend #MIvRCB #IPL

— Sid Mallya (@sidmallya) May 10, 2015

Mumbai Indians would have been relieved to dismiss Chris Gayle - who scored a century in Royal Challengers' previous game against Kings XI Punjab - early, but today it was de Villiers' turn.

@KieronPollard55 - you told me to put down my guns...but @ABdeVilliers17 had all the ammunitions! #ABDdaBanng pic.twitter.com/dNVJ6kTNsb

— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) May 10, 2015

Wonder if the IPL would need a cap on superheroes in a team?

If Gayle is the Hulk, then ABD is surely the Iron Man in the #RCB team. #MIvsRCB

— Sudipto Roy (@sudipto21) May 10, 2015

De Villiers, though, was helped by a generous dose of hit-me full tosses towards the end of the innings.

AB DeVilliers--The Main Show. Full tosses--The Side Show. How many did they bowl in the last 5 overs? Unreal. #IPL #MIvRCB

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 10, 2015

De Villiers is widely seen as the current No. 1 all-format batsman, and his stunning performances have raised comparisons with the game's greatest limited-overs batsman.

I know different eras and styles etc but how much better could mighty Viv have been than this AB? #PepsiIPL #RCB

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 10, 2015