AB de Villiers, the former South Africa captain, has suggested a cricket comeback. The star batter, who played his last international match in 2018 and IPL game in 2021, is contemplating a return. However, he emphasized that he plans to play only recreational cricket and has no desire to rejoin RCB or the IPL.
In an interview, AB de Villiers mentioned that he might think about returning to cricket, mainly due to his children’s encouragement. He expressed interest in playing casual cricket for enjoyment, rather than pursuing a professional career in the IPL or for South Africa. You can watch the video here:
https://x.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1881772898593206415?s=46
De Villiers mentioned that his left eye is slightly blurry, but his dominant right eye is fine, which is enough for him to consider the opportunity. He shared that he would love to play the game casually with his children, and then he will make further decisions based on how things unfold.
“I might still play cricket one day, no confirmation whatsoever. But I’m starting to feel like, you know, my kids are putting me under a bit of pressure and I feel like I could go to the nets with them, you know.”
“My boy can feed me bowling machine balls and if I enjoy it, maybe I’ll walk out and go and play a little bit of casual cricket somewhere again and not professional IPL stuff or SA Tours. Who knows? Who knows? But we’ll see,” De Villiers said.
“I’m going to try it again and see if this eye is still working. It’s a bit blurry, but this is the dominant one and it’s working fine. So I’m doing it for my kids and see if I can go out there and enjoy cricket again, even if it’s very casual and then we’ll see where we draw the line with it,” he added.
De Villiers Rejects RCB Return, Opts for Casual Cricket Instead
AB de Villiers indicated that while he might return to cricket, it would be in a relaxed, non-competitive form, avoiding the high-pressure environment of playing for RCB or in professional leagues. His focus would be on keeping it enjoyable, with most of the experience centered around playing with his kids.
De Villiers stressed that family comes first and he cherishes time with them. He wants to make memories by playing cricket with his kids, letting them bowl and join in. Cricket has always been a big part of his life, so he sees no reason to fully step away, even if it’s just for fun.
De Villiers called Imran Tahir one of his favorites and someone he’d always want on his team. He stated:
“Maybe, maybe. Nothing serious though. We’re not talking RCB and big stuff here. I don’t want to feel that pressure again, that’s the thing,” he further added.
“I want to have fun wherever I go, with my kids, and feel happy to be there. That’s why I’m stepping away from something I’ve done my whole life—to be with my family. Now, I can take them along and we can enjoy it together. I want my kids to watch, play, and be a part of it. It’s always been in me, so there’s no reason to turn away from that.”
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