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Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, affectionately known as ABD, has recently teased the possibility of making a return to cricket, albeit in a more relaxed role. The cricketing icon, renowned for his inventive batting and game-changing performances, hung up his boots from international cricket in 2018 and played his final professional match in the IPL in 2021. Despite this, De Villiers has hinted that the cricket world may not have seen the last of him just yet.
Regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, Pretoria-born AB de Villiers has left an indelible mark on world cricket. With a career that includes 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is, he holds a string of remarkable records, including the fastest ODI fifty, century, and 150. His IPL career, particularly with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), saw him amass 5,162 runs in 184 matches.
Since retiring, the versatile “Mr. 360” has stayed connected to the game through commentary and his YouTube channel. In a candid conversation with journalist Melinda Farrell on the Running Between The Wickets show, de Villiers revealed that a potential return to cricket, albeit in a more relaxed capacity, might still be on the cards.
I might still play cricket one day, no confirmation whatsoever- AB de Villiers
“I might still play cricket one day, no confirmation whatsoever. I’ll go out and play a bit of casual cricket somewhere. And not professional IPL stuff or SA tours. Who knows, but we’ll see. I’m going to try it again.”- AB de Villiers
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Nothing serious though, not talking about RCB or any of that intense stuff. Who knows? But we’ll see,” the 40-year-old AB de Villiers said, reflecting on his potential return. “I’m gonna give it another go and see if this eye still works. It’s a bit blurry, but the right one—my dominant eye—is still fine. So, I’m doing it for my kids and to see if I can go out there and enjoy cricket again.
Additionally, AB de Villiers expressed admiration for players like Imran Tahir, who, at 45, is still playing competitive cricket. However, de Villiers made it clear that he’s not talking about a return to RCB or any professional league. Instead, he emphasized his desire to rediscover the joy of playing cricket without the pressures of high-stakes competitions.
“I’ll maybe ask him to be in my team wherever I go. Just remember this: he’s one of my favourite players. Nothing serious, though. We’re not talking about RCB and big stuff. Yes, I don’t want to feel that pressure again. That’s the thing. So, wherever I go, I’ll have a bit of fun,” Said de Villiers
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