Before becoming a legend at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), AB de Villiers began his Indian Premier League (IPL) journey with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2008. Though his exploits in RCB colors are widely celebrated, his time at Delhi is less remembered. Now, de Villiers has shed light on why he couldn’t deliver the same performances during his stint with the Daredevils.
‘Lots of Poisonous Characters’ in the Delhi Squad
In a revealing conversation with Cricket.com, de Villiers opened up about the environment within the Delhi team. Without naming names, he stated that the dressing room was affected by some negative influences.
“I would hate to give you names. Burning people, you know. But the Delhi Daredevils were in shambles. I mean, it was. There were lots of poisonous characters in that side,” he said. While de Villiers acknowledged the presence of several legends in the team, the negative atmosphere made it difficult for him to thrive.
A Bittersweet Experience Despite Legendary Company
Despite the internal issues, de Villiers still cherishes parts of his time at Delhi. He spoke fondly about sharing the dressing room with cricketing greats like Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori.
“Lots of legends. So it’s such a bittersweet moment for me because I speak… I remember it fondly. And some of the highlights of my life and career was there, spending time with Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori,” he shared. These moments stand out as key memories even if the overall experience didn’t bring out his best cricket.
Sharing Space with Childhood Heroes
What made the Delhi chapter particularly special for de Villiers was the opportunity to interact with players he once idolised.
Recalling an early encounter with McGrath, he said, “But these guys were my heroes and I was so scared of them growing up. Like McGrath. I mean, I played against him in 2006 in a Test match and I could hardly breathe, literally, and never spoke a word to him. And then in the next minute, I’m sitting here in 2008 and he sits next to me and goes, I like the way you play. I’m like, what’s going on there?”
Though his best years came at RCB, AB de Villiers’ reflections show that his Delhi days, though troubled, were deeply formative.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
